jjares reviewed Serpent Legends: The History and Legacy of the Folk Tales about Sea Serpents on + 3274 more book reviews
This book explains that every society has tall tales, ghost stories, and tales of strange beastsâwhether benign or dangerous. Since men lived close to the land (in earlier times), they knew the habits of the animals they encountered but also believed in creatures they did not see. This book asserts that even today, the belief in strange creatures is just as strong as in the past.
Since 71% of Earth is water, this book concentrates on sea serpents of legend. I've always wondered what a Kraken was. It was a legendary giant sea monster akin to the octopus or squid. This legend is believed to come from sightings of giant squid between Norway and Iceland. Those squid grew from 40 to 50 feet.
This book's gist is that sea monster sightings were more common during sailing's heyday (before the 19th century). Many of these sightings were by experienced sailors familiar with marine life. Well-respected sailors gave graphic descriptions of the creatures they saw, often with other seamen seeing the same thing. In 1822-24, Polar explorer James Weddell wrote about a fellow seaman who saw a mermaid. His writing about the sighting shows that he believed in the mermaid story and that it had scientific merit.
In addition to mermaids and mermen, there are stories about sea serpents off Cape Ann, Massachusetts, the Gloucester Sea Serpent (off Gloucester, Mass.), which was seen as recently as 1997, and the hunt for the Loch Ness Monster (Nessie). An extended summary of the search for the Loch Ness Monster is included.
Cryptozoology is the study of hidden or undiscovered animals. They don't study UFOs or the paranormal. This book is entertaining and would be a great gift to a reluctant reader.
Since 71% of Earth is water, this book concentrates on sea serpents of legend. I've always wondered what a Kraken was. It was a legendary giant sea monster akin to the octopus or squid. This legend is believed to come from sightings of giant squid between Norway and Iceland. Those squid grew from 40 to 50 feet.
This book's gist is that sea monster sightings were more common during sailing's heyday (before the 19th century). Many of these sightings were by experienced sailors familiar with marine life. Well-respected sailors gave graphic descriptions of the creatures they saw, often with other seamen seeing the same thing. In 1822-24, Polar explorer James Weddell wrote about a fellow seaman who saw a mermaid. His writing about the sighting shows that he believed in the mermaid story and that it had scientific merit.
In addition to mermaids and mermen, there are stories about sea serpents off Cape Ann, Massachusetts, the Gloucester Sea Serpent (off Gloucester, Mass.), which was seen as recently as 1997, and the hunt for the Loch Ness Monster (Nessie). An extended summary of the search for the Loch Ness Monster is included.
Cryptozoology is the study of hidden or undiscovered animals. They don't study UFOs or the paranormal. This book is entertaining and would be a great gift to a reluctant reader.
