Published in English for the first time, and the only Arabic epic named for a woman, The Tale of Princess Fatima recounts the thrilling adventures of a legendary medieval warrior universally known throughout the Middle East and long overdue to join world literature's pantheon of female heroes. A Penguin Classic A fearsome, sword-slinging heroine who defeated countless men in stealth attacks on horseback, Dhat al-Himma, or Princess Fatima, was secretly given away at birth because she wasn't male, only to triumph as the most formidable warrior of her time. Known alternately as "she-wolf," "woman of high resolve," and "calamity of the soul," she lives on in this rousing narrative of female empowerment, in which she leads armies of more than seventy thousand men in clashes between rival tribes and between Muslims and Christians; reconciles with her father after taking him prisoner; and fends off her infatuated cousin, who challenges her to a battle for the right to marry her. Though her cousin suffers an ignominious defeat, he impregnates Fatima against her will and, when she gives birth to a Black son, disowns his own son, who also grows up to be a great warrior, eventually avenging his mother's honor. The epic culminates in a showdown between Fatima and another formidable warrior woman, and earns Fatima a place alongside the likes of Circe, Mulan, Wonder Woman, Katniss Everdeen and other powerful women.

Gathering a wide range of traditional African myths, this compelling new collection offers tales of heroes battling mighty serpents and monstrous birds, brutal family conflict and vengeance, and desperate migrations across vast and alien lands. From impassioned descriptions of animal-creators to dramatic stories of communities forced to flee monstrous crocodiles, all the narratives found here concern origins - whether of the universe, peoples or families. Together, they create a kaleidoscopic picture of the rich and varied oral traditions that have shaped the culture and society of successive generations of Africans for thousands of years, throughout the long struggle to survive and explore this massive and environmentally diverse continent.

The Persian epic that inspired Eric Clapton's unforgettable love song "Layla" and that Lord Byron called "the Romeo and Juliet of the East," in a masterly new translation A Penguin Classic The iconic love story of the Middle East, by a twelfth-century Persian poet who has been compared to Shakespeare for his subtlety, inventiveness, and dramatic force, Layli and Majnun tells of star-crossed lovers whose union is tragically thwarted by their families and whose passion continues to ripple out across the centuries. Theirs is a love that lasts a lifetime, and in Nezami's immortal telling, erotic longing blends with spiritual self-denial in an allegory of Sufi aspiration, as the amenities of civilization give way to the elemental wilderness, desire is sublimated into a mystical renunciation of the physical world, and the soul confronts its essence. This is a tour de force of Persian literature, in a translation that captures the extraordinary power and virtuosity of the original.

Compiled with the intention of letting Islam describe itself in its own words, this book is an important source for all students of Muslim culture and world religions. It includes an interpretation of the Qur'an, as well as portions of the Hadith--sayings and actions of the Prophet--Islamic law, mysticism (Sufism), theology, and sectarian writings.

The Essential Analects offers a representative selection from Edward Slingerland's acclaimed translation of the full work, including passages covering all major themes. An appendix of selected traditional commentaries keyed to each passage provides access to the text and to its reception and interpretation. Also included are a glossary of terms and short biographies of the disciples of Confucius and the traditional commentators cited.

This great Central Asian epic, passed down through generations and now brought to life in a new translation, carries the reader into a world of nomads, warriors and horselords 'I am a steel-fanged lion, a dragon ready to pounce, a mighty poplar with golden branches rising up to the sky' The bard Saghïmbay Orozbaq uulu composed his oral telling of the great Central Asian Manas epic in the early twentieth century, although it draws on far older sources. This vivid episode from his narrative tells the bravura story of an uncertain new khan, Boqmurun, who holds a great feast to commemorate his predecessor, Kökötöy. From east and west, warriors and their turbulent retinues come to compete in horse races, jousting and wrestling, and soon insults are hurled and scores settled violently. Yet none can beat the supreme hero, the mighty, truculent Manas. By turns earthy, stirring, bombastic and funny, Saghïmbay's work stands as a monument to the oral culture of a nomadic people. Daniel Prior's landmark translation includes a 'How to Read the Epic' section, commentary, maps and illustrations. Composed in oral performance by Saghïmbay Orozbaq uulu Translated by Daniel Prior

Storyteller blends original short stories and poetry influenced by the traditional oral tales that Leslie Marmon Silko heard growing up on the Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico with autobiographical passages, folktales, family memories, and photographs. As she mixes traditional and Western literary genres, Silko examines themes of memory, alienation, power, and identity; communicates Native American notions regarding time, nature, and spirituality; and explores how stories and storytelling shape people and communities. Storyteller illustrates how one can frame collective cultural identity in contemporary literary forms, as well as illuminates the importance of myth, oral tradition, and ritual in Silko's own work.

Blending the iconoclastic feminism of The Notorious RBG and the confident irreverence of Go the F**ck to Sleep, a brazen and empowering illustrated collection that celebrates inspirational badass women throughout history, based on the popular Tumblr blog. Well-behaved women seldom make history. Good thing these women are far from well behaved . . . Illustrated in a contemporary animation style, Rejected Princesses turns the ubiquitous "pretty pink princess" stereotype portrayed in movies, and on endless toys, books, and tutus on its head, paying homage instead to an awesome collection of strong, fierce, and yes, sometimes weird, women: warrior queens, soldiers, villains, spies, revolutionaries, and more who refused to behave and meekly accept their place. An entertaining mix of biography, imagery, and humor written in a fresh, young, and riotous voice, this thoroughly researched exploration salutes these awesome women drawn from both historical and fantastical realms, including real life, literature, mythology, and folklore. Each profile features an eye-catching image of both heroic and villainous women in command from across history and around the world, from a princess-cum-pirate in fifth century Denmark, to a rebel preacher in 1630s Boston, to a bloodthirsty Hungarian countess, and a former prostitute who commanded a fleet of more than 70,000 men on China’s seas.

Akylay Baimatova translated Epos Manas into English using Mar Baijiev's Russian translation as a guide. There are very few translations of this work available in English and the versions that are available do not do a work of this magnitude justice.Akylay is a native Kyrgyz who grew up studying verses of Epos Manas and celebrating its epic stories. This project started from Akylay's desire to teach her own American children (who only speak English) about their Kyrgyz family history and the rich culture of a country that is rarely studied.Akylay Baimatova lives in Florida (16 years and counting) and works as a high school science teacher. She strongly believes that bilingual translators present the best, most honest work. When she went to Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University, she used to love Mar Baijievs' books, and when his version of Tales of Manas was published in 2011, she was in awe with this book, which expresses the ideas and cultural nuances in full color. Learn more about this translation and Akylay's other work at www.talesofmanas.comFrom the historical perspective, this great epos of the world, this huge legacy of the historical past of the Kyrgyz people has seen both fortunate and unfortunate times. Unfortunate because in a large cultural and scientific world no one heard of it for a long time, because in times of great manaschis like Choyuke, Tynybek and Balyk there were no possibilities to record their performances. The fortunate past was in the second half of the 19th century, when two outstanding turkologist-ethnographers and travelers like V.Radlov and Ch.Valikhanov literally "stumbled" upon this epos, immediately realizing the unique cultural heritage gem they have found.Ch.Valikhanov compared the Kyrgyz epos with the Greek "Iliad" in its steppe version, saying that it is an encyclopedic collection of myths, legends, ancient history and diplomacy of the Kyrgyz. Of course, "Manas" is not an "Iliad", and "Iliad" is not "Manas", for each epic story has its own unique bright artistic features. Kyrgyz people are obliged to these outstanding scientists, who introduced the epos "Manas" into the world of research and its first publication.This epos was fortunate finally that it has made its way into the global community, and in 1994 the General Assembly of the United Nations made a decision on the worldwide celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the epos Manas, which was implemented in 1995.But on its path the Kyrgyz epos met a lot of difficulties, many hurdles. Moreover, defending this epos, preparing translations into Russian language, people suffered, and scientists and scholars were shot during Soviet times.But the most interesting is that the Kyrgyz people used epos "Manas", when they experienced difficult, fateful times. It was actively discussed during October Revolution, when it was necessary to raise the national culture, in the 1920-1930s. During the WWII "Manas" was useful more than ever, giving support to soldiers in the front, lifting the spirit of people at home.During post-Stalin period scientists started researching, translating the epos, during Khrushchev's Thawing period the theme of historical roots and imperishable cultural values of the Kyrgyz became necessary upon prevalence of ideological mankurtism.It is not surprising; therefore, that it is the "Manas" with its powerful unifying pathos-and the idea of ​​national revival became the main cultural-ideological platform for a very young independent Kyrgyz state. It is clear that every Kyrgyz will always honor this heroic-tragic epos, be proud of being a part of it, continue to research and value its great ideas and learn lessons that it teaches.