The book of legendary lands

Book

The book of legendary lands / Umberto Eco ; translated by Alastair McEwen.

Eco, Umberto, (author.). McEwen, Alastair, (translator.).

Summary:

From the epic poets of antiquity to contemporary writers of science fiction, from the authors of the Holy Scriptures to modern raconteurs of fairy tales, writers and storytellers through the ages have invented imaginary and mythical lands, projecting onto them all of our human dreams, ideals, and fears. Writer and cultural critic Umberto Eco leads us on a beautifully illustrated journey through these lands of myth and invention, showing us their inhabitants, the passions that rule them, their heroes and antagonists, and, above all, the importance they hold for us. He explores this human urge to create such places, the utopias and dystopias where our imagination can confront things that are too incredible or challenging for our limited real world.

Record details

ISBN: 9780847841219
ISBN: 0847841219
Physical Description: 477 pages : illustrations (some color), maps (some color) ; 25 cm
Publisher: New York, N.Y. : Rizzoli Ex Libris, 2013.
Copyright: ©2013

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:: Includes bibliographical references (pages 472-476) and indexes.
Formatted Contents Note:: The flat earth and the antipodes -- Biblical lands -- The lands of Homer and the Seven Wonders -- The wonders of the East, from Alexander to Prester John -- The Earthly Paradise, the Isles of the Blessed, and El Dorado -- Atlantis, Mu, and Lemuria -- Ultima Thule and Hyperborea -- The migrations of the Grail -- Alamüt, the Old Man of the Mountain, and the Assassins -- The Land of Cockaigne -- The Islands of Utopia -- The Island of Solomon and the Austral Land -- The interior of the Earth, the Polar myth, and Agartha -- The invention of Rennes-le-Château -- Fictional places and their truth.