Threads of seven colors are stretched on the great prairie. What is it? It runs through the valleys clapping its hands. "Rainbow" and "butterfly" are the answers to these two Native American riddles, typically drawn from the world of nature. Long hidden from view, the American Indian riddling tradition is revealed in all its variety in this carefully researched collection -- the first of its kind -- presenting 140 riddles translated from twenty different languages, including Aztec, Comanche, Maya, Onondaga, Pawnee, and ...
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Threads of seven colors are stretched on the great prairie. What is it? It runs through the valleys clapping its hands. "Rainbow" and "butterfly" are the answers to these two Native American riddles, typically drawn from the world of nature. Long hidden from view, the American Indian riddling tradition is revealed in all its variety in this carefully researched collection -- the first of its kind -- presenting 140 riddles translated from twenty different languages, including Aztec, Comanche, Maya, Onondaga, Pawnee, and Quechua. Here are examples of courtship riddling, hunter's riddling, dream-guessing, life-or-death riddling, and story riddling. In his introductory essay, editor John Bierhorst shows how such "games" are linked to the life and customs of the people who originated them. He also offers pointers to help non-Indian guessers come up with the right answers. With sweeping strokes and deft touches of humor, Louise Brierley's illustrations capture the spirit of mystery and inventiveness characteristic of this most unusual, most unexpected of Native American traditions.
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Seller's Description:
Louise Brierley. Fine in Near Fine jacket. Book Octavo, hardcover, fine in near fine blue and yellow pictorial dj. First printing. 104pp, b&w illustrations throughout. A collection of 140 Native American riddles translated from 20 different languages.
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Seller's Description:
Louise Brierley. Very Good in Very Good jacket. Near Fine in Near Fine jacket 9.5x6.5. 104 pages. Illustrated blue/brown wraps. Very slight shelfwear to jacket and board edges. Black and white illustrations.
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Seller's Description:
Used Good in Good jacket. Dust Jacket is wrapped in mylar Brodart covering, which is removable. Light wear to cover, slightly bumped corners, pages clean and unmarked. There is a previous owner's name on the inside. Some pages have light foxing (tan spots or browning). Firefly Bookstore sells items online and in our store front. We try to add images and descriptions when we can, but if you need additional information or photos of the books we list, please contact us.
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Seller's Description:
As New in As New dust jacket. 688095828. Hardcover in dust jacket. First printing of first edition. Book and unclipped dust jacket are in fine, As New, gift-giving condition, crisp and clean, with tight binding and sharp corners. 8vo. 104 pp. In protective Mylar.