Always wondered about the historical originals of your favourite mythical creature? You’re not the only one! Genre hero Guillermo del Toro recently said that The Folio Society’s latest release Mythical Beasts “is not only a beautifully designed book but a magnificent idea-igniter for storytellers interested in fantastic lore. Erudite and mesmerizing”.
Written by leading experts and edited by former British Museum curator John Cherry, Mythical Beasts traces the origins of four significant beasts – the dragon, the unicorn, the griffin and the sphinx, and also includes a chapter on half-human creatures.
New from The Folio Society, this edition is printed two-colour throughout and is illustrated with 24 pages of beautiful newly researched images bringing together some of the world’s most incredible artistic interpretations of these beasts.
In words and pictures, Mythical Beasts illuminates the roles beasts have played across cultures and reveals why they have retained their appeal from antiquity to the present day. This new edition is illustrated with archive images from museums around the world, including photographs of paintings and artefacts. Each chapter is headed by a newly commissioned illustration from Neil Packer, who has also crafted elaborate figures and intricate motifs for the binding, slipcase and title page. Finally, a glossary provides an easy alphabetical reference to many more beasts from art and antiquity around the world.
Take a sneak peek into the look with our image gallery below…
Born in the imagination, mythical beasts feature in the legends, myths and stories of cultures around the world, from prehistoric times to this day. Appearing in many forms, from ancient Chinese silks and carvings, to medieval tapestries and contemporary company logos, these commanding creatures are steeped in mysticism. The rich and colourful history spans Ancient Egypt, Africa, Mesopotamia and Imperial China all the way to the work of Lewis Carroll, and the fashionable and decorative sphinxes of the 1920s.
The Folio Society’s edition of Mythical Beasts, introduced and edited by John Cherry, with illustrations by Neil Packer and extensive picture research by the Folio Society is available exclusively from www.foliosociety.com