The Science of Fairy Tales AN INQUIRY INTO FAIRY MYTHOLOGY

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Repro India Limited, 2023 - History - 286 pages
"The Science of Fairy Tales" by Edwin Sidney Hartland is a groundbreaking text that delves into the intriguing field of folklore, with a particular emphasis on the origins, meanings, and cultural value of fairy tales. Hartland's work represents a forerunner in the intellectual study of folklore and mythology. Some stories are brutal and weird, while others creep up on you and draw you in slowly. This edition of "The science of fairy tales" is both modern and legible, with an eye-catching new cover and professionally typeset manuscript. Hartland's approach is both broad and analytical, as he looks for common threads that connect fairy stories from various civilizations around the world. He delves into the psychological, sociological, and symbolic components of these stories in order to comprehend the underlying human motives, concerns, and desires portrayed in these timeless tales. Hartland sheds light on the universal themes and motifs that persist in fairy tales independent of cultural origin through meticulous research and a comparative approach.

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About the author (2023)

Edwin Sidney Hartland (1848-1927) was a folklore author. His writings include compilations of stories as well as thoughts on anthropology and mythology from an ethnological standpoint. He believed that collecting and studying enduring and widespread folklore provided scientific insight into habit and belief. Hartland was president of the Folklore Society from 1899 to 1901, and he contributed to the magazine Folk-Lore; one of his early contributions had a disagreement with Andrew Lang. Hartland was born in Islington and went on to work as a solicitor in Swansea. E. J. Hartland, his father, was a congregational minister. Throughout his life, he held numerous judicial roles and served on public committees in Swansea and Gloucester, with a special interest in education.

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