"Explores the mythical and historical backgrounds of dragons, both in the East and the West"--Provided by publisher.

"Explores the mythical and historical backgrounds of sphinxes and centaurs, including the Buraq of Islamic tradition, the Great Sphinx of ancient Egypt, man-animals of Mesopotamia, and the Gandharvas of India"--Provided by publisher.

There are many creatures that inspire folklore. Some have existed for thousands of years, while others are more recent incarnations. Among the most enduring creatures of the past are demons. These creatures are as old as the Jewish faith, perhaps older, and hold a special place in the lives of humans. This book delves into the oldest demon folktales, explores the ways different cultures have experienced demons, and examines how demons are treated...

Explores the mythical and historical backgrounds of leprechauns and their powers, and describes their role in popular culture.

"Throughout history, the human imagination has inspired the creation of fantastical creatures and sinister monsters. Perhaps one of the most well known is the vampire, a bloodsucking human cursed to forever prey on victims in the night. Vampires have lived in legends and stories of many cultures around the world. As the cultures evolved, so too did these tales. Today, some maintain the vampire is not just a man-made invention but rather a real creature....

Introduces zombies, describing their characteristic features, their greatest weakness, legends about them from the past, and the various ways they have been depicted in the popular culture.

For centuries, elves have been characters of myths and legends. Originating in Scandinavian tales, the folklore of elves has evolved over time. Today, many people associate elves with the memorable characters from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. However, various cultures from around the world have contributed to the modern-day perception of these creatures. This book explores the history of elves, their different cultural representations, and their...

Since ancient times, the mystical and magical have inspired countless stories of men and women wielding special powers. Among these are wizards, humans with immense magical ability. Related to witches, these beings have been shrouded in their own folktales and fairy stories. Some wizards are said to be good, while others are bad. Today, the most well known contemporary wizard is Harry Potter, the fictitious hero of J. K. Rowling's imaginative series....