Australian Legends and Landscapes

Book excerpt: "This powerful reminder of a rich and varied ancient culture, in which there were once more than 350 languages, features legends told in a variety of styles both in prose and poetry. The styles reflect the individuality of the authors and the differing present-day cultures through which legends are passed on to us. Drawn from an Aboriginal world in which each seperate group has its own legends, the stories are enormous in range. Some are violent, some mysterious, many are gently humorous, touching or even whimsical. The Alcheringa - the time of creation - is implicit in all the stories as is the spirit world so important in Aboriginal culture."--BOOK JACKET.