History Myths

First published in Germany in 1980, British historian Ian Kershaw's The "Hitler Myth" is recognized as one of the most important books ever written about Adolf Hitler and the Nazi State. Kershaw wanted to focus on what he called the "history of everyday life", and so investigated the attitude of the German public to Hitler at the time, rather than looking at the dictator from the perspective of those in positions of power. He was intrigued to find out how someone like Hitler could have become such a powerful figure.

In this book, the third in the series, you will find a selection of 16 legends, each of which relates to a particular place in Central Wales. Black Bart the Pirate, Owain Glyndwr, the Red Dragon of Wales, the Five Saints, and the Red Bandits of Mawddwy are just a few of the characters you will meet in this audiobook.

Sixteen Welsh legends and myths from north-eastern Wales. Wales is a land filled with mythology. Every breathtaking valley, towering mountain, shimmering lake and magical castle has a mythical tale to entertain and enchant you. The Welsh, like other Celtic races, love to tell stories. From before the time of the Mabinogion and the Black Book of Carmarthen they have passed dark winter nights telling Welsh fables, fairy tales and legends.

In this book you will find a selection of 16 well known legends, each of which relates to a particular place in South-eastern Wales. Wales is a land rich in folklore and legend. The beauty and mystery of the land enchants us with tales from the past.

Epic poetry and tragic drama provide us with some of the richest ancient Greek depictions of women who are married to soldiers. In tales of the Trojan War, as told by Homer, Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, we encounter these mythical warriors' wives: Penelope, isolated but resourceful as she awaits the return of Odysseus after his lengthy absence; the war widow Andromache, enslaved and displaced from her homeland after the fall of Troy; the unfaithful and murderous Clytemnestra; and Tecmessa, a war captive who witnesses her partner's breakdown and suicide in the aftermath of battle.

African ideas of how the world began are very different from the story of Genesis. Though the creator god is repeatedly seen as having withdrawn from the world, people often have a very direct and intense relationship with demigods, ancestors, and bush spirits. The entire landscape is permeated by spiritual meanings and inhabited by gods and spirits. While many Africans today formally follow the Christian or Muslim faiths, they often blend these beliefs with traditional lore and rites.

Meet the Nordic god of thunder! Thor is a happy god—unless you make him angry. Then he might shake the earth and topple mountains. So stay on his good side as he takes you on a journey across the rainbow bridge to Middle Earth and beyond, to mysterious Nordic realms filled with frost giants, dark elves, and plundering Vikings. In this engaging and humorous work of nonfiction, Thor offers a wildly entertaining introduction to Norse mythology.

Hades, god of the dead, welcomes listeners on a dangerous tour of his underworld kingdom, filled with monsters, furies, giants, and vampire demons. Along the way, he reveals ancient death rites and sinister curses, tells hair-raising stories, and cracks jokes to die for. With his witty voice and ghoulish sense of humor, Hades is the perfect guide through this fresh and imaginative work of nonfiction that unfolds like a novel. Includes a glossary, bibliography, and index.

Festivals give life to any society. They reflect the way of life, myth, and art. In this ancient history book for kids, we’re going to dive into some of the most celebrated Chinese festivals. It is hoped that through this book, children will see festivals as more than just parties and colors. They’re reflections of cultures, too.

King Arthur rules his realm from the shining castle of Camelot. Arthur relies on the wisdom of his wife, Guinivere, and on the bravery of his Knights of the Round Table. But dark forces are at work in Camelot. Enemies in Arthur's midst seek to take his throne. Rumors about Guinivere and Arthur's best knight and friend, Lancelot, set in motion a terrible conflict. Will Arthur fight to restore the peace in his kingdom, or is this the end of Camelot?

After finally winning the decade-long war against the Trojans, Odysseus, captain of the Greek army, only has to guide his men back home across the sea. Yet the journey will prove just as perilous as the battles they have just won, as they encounter the monstrous, man-eating cyclops, the irresistible song of the siren, and the wrath of an angry Poseidon, god of the sea. Are he and his men destined to die at sea? Or can Odysseus's cunning, strength, and courage bring them safely home?

Out of the great halls of Asgard, home of the Norse Gods...came one of the greatest Norse legends. Thor, powerful god of thunder, and his brother Loki, the trickster, were eager to resolve an argument: does strength always win, or do brains always beat brawn? To find an answer, they travel to the strange and forbidding land of giants. There they will face a series of challenges that will prove once and for all which god is right. Or will it?

Jason was born a prince of the kingdom of Argos. But when Jason was a child, his uncle Pelias stole the throne and sent Jason into hiding. Now a young man, Jason returns to claim his birthright. But Pelias only sneers. He demands that Jason prove himself by retrieving the priceless magical Golden Fleece from the far-off land of Colchis. Jason accepts the challenge and gathers a ship full of Greek war heroes to aid him.

Orasmyn lives a peaceful life of quiet duty and thoughtful obedience. But a single wrong decision sets in motion an ancient curse that changes Orasmyn's fate forever. Told he will be killed by his own father, he is transformed into a lion on the day of a great hunt. The prince has no choice but to flee beloved Persia and his precious family. Balancing his fading human memories with his new beastly impulses, he makes his way to Europe - where his destiny awaits in the person of a French beauty.

Born into a village filled with hateful people, Zephyr grew up not knowing why he was so hated. With no friends and eventually no family, after the passing of his mother, Zephyr was forced to survive by himself as an outcast. Zephyr's only wish was to make his mother proud and force the village to recognize him - while surviving in a world filled with demons, paranormal abilities, love, hate, and undiscovered lands.

Only the greatest loves can survive great danger.... Imprisoned by Prince John for months, Scarlet finds herself a long way from Nottinghamshire. After a daring escape, she learns that King Richard's life is in jeopardy, and Eleanor of Aquitaine needs Scarlet's help to free him. For a lifelong thief, this newfound allegiance to the crown - her family - is a strange feeling. Scarlet knows that helping Eleanor will put her and those she loves back in Prince John's sights.

Gold thread promises Charlotte Miller a chance to save her family's beloved woolen mill. It promises a future for her sister, jobs for her townsfolk, security against her grasping uncle - maybe even true love. But to get the thread, Charlotte must strike a bargain with its maker, the mysterious Jack Spinner. This is an award-winning and wholly original retelling of "Rumplestiltskin".

A wild land too mountainous to be tamed by plows…A Duke of the Holy Roman Empire, his cunning overshadowed only by his ambition…A young Priestess of the Old Religion, together with a charismatic outlaw, sparking a rebellion from deep within the forests…And an ex-Hospitaller caught between them all. At the end of the thirteenth century, five hundred orphans and second sons are rounded up from villages in the Alpine countryside and sold to the Hospitaller Knights of St John. Trained to serve as Soldiers of Christ, they fight in eastern lands they know nothing about, for a cause they do not understand.

Not just anyone can be a knight, and this spell-binding collection of action-packed stories from around the world will show you why. Narrated by Anthony Head, who played Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Knights is the absorbing tale of young Tom of Warwick who is sent to his local castle to learn the art of knighthood. Tom's adventures, and the stories he hears from Master William about knights from many traditions, will delight and enthral young would-be-knights everywhere.

Japanese mythology offers a fascinating lens from which to gaze upon the natural world. Through tales of heroic samurai, creepy vengeful ghosts, and deities that wield the mighty powers of nature, these stories and mythical figures emphasize the importance of humans living harmoniously with their surroundings. It is often said that in order to understand a country’s culture and history, one needs to simply look at the stories they tell about the world around them.