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Women's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets Paperback – 1 Jan. 1987

by Barbara G Walker (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 449 ratings
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Do You Know...

  • where the legend of a cat's nine lives comes from

  • why "mama" is a word understood in nearly all languages

  • how the custom of kissing began

  • whether there really was a female pope

  • why Cinderella's glass slipper was so important to the Prince

The answers to these and countless other intriguing questions are given in this compulsively readable, feminist encyclopedia. Twenty-five years in preparation, this unique, comprehensive sourcebook focuses on mythology anthropology, religion, and sexuality to uncover precisely what other encyclopedias leave out or misrepresent. The Woman's Encyclopedia presents the fascinating stories behind word origins, legends, superstitions, and customs. A browser's delight and an indispensable resource, it offers 1,350 entries on magic, witchcraft, fairies, elves, giants, goddesses, gods, and psychological anomalies such as demonic possession; the mystical meanings of sun, moon, earth, sea, time, and space; ideas of the soul, reincarnation, creation and doomsday; ancient and modern attitudes toward sex, prostitution, romance, rape, warfare, death and sin, and more.

Tracing these concepts to their prepatriarchal origins, Barbara G. Walker explores a "thousand hidden pockets of history and custom in addition to the valuable material recovered by archaeologists, orientalists, and other scholars."

Not only a compendium of fascinating lore and scholarship, The Woman's Encyclopedia is a revolutionary book that offers a rare opportunity for both women and men to see our cultural heritage in a fresh light, and draw upon the past for a more humane future.

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  1. ISBN-10
    006250925X
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0062509253
  3. Edition
    First Edition
  4. Publisher
    HarperSanFrancisco
  5. Publication date
    1 Jan. 1987
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    15.54 x 4.6 x 23.5 cm
  8. Print length
    1124 pages
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From the Publisher

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At HarperCollins, authors and their work are at the center of everything we do. We are proud to provide our authors with unprecedented editorial excellence, marketing reach, long-standing connections with booksellers, and insight into reader and consumer behavior. Consistently at the forefront of innovation and technological advancement, HarperCollins also uses digital technology to create unique reading experiences and expand the reach of our authors.

HarperCollins was founded by brothers James and John Harper in New York City in 1817 as J. and J. Harper, later Harper & Brothers. In 1987, as Harper & Row, it was acquired by News Corporation. The worldwide book group was formed following News Corporation's 1990 acquisition of the British publisher William Collins & Sons. Founded in 1819, William Collins & Sons published a range of Bibles, atlases, dictionaries, and reissued classics, expanding over the years to include legendary authors such as H. G. Wells, Agatha Christie, J. R. R. Tolkien, and C. S. Lewis.

The house of Mark Twain, the Brontë sisters, Thackeray, Dickens, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., Maurice Sendak, Shel Silverstein, and Margaret Wise Brown, HarperCollins has a long and rich history that reaches back to the early nineteenth century and offers our publishing team a depth of experience.

Product description

About the Author

Barbara G. Walker, author of The Woman''s Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets, The Woman''s Dictionary of Symbols and Sacred Objects, and many other books, is a member of the Morris Museum Mineralogical Society and the Trailside Mineral Club of the New Jersey Earth Science Association.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperSanFrancisco; First Edition (1 Jan. 1987)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 1124 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 006250925X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062509253
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.54 x 4.6 x 23.5 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 449 ratings

About the author

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Barbara G. Walker

Barbara G. Walker

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Barbara G. Walker, author of The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets, The Woman's Dictionary of Symbols and Sacred Objects, and many other books, is a member of the Morris Museum Mineralogical Society and the Trailside Mineral Club of the New Jersey Earth Science Association.

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4.6 out of 5 stars
449 global ratings

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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • D
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 November 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Like the thickness of the book and is covered well
    Helpful
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  • Paul James Nicholson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 July 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Wonderful book a result of quarter of centurys research
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  • lillyacomoloco
    5.0 out of 5 stars Diamond of a book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 September 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I remember borrowing this from my local library in my early twenties and thinking to myself that I had to make sure that I get my own copy one day, and now I have.

    This book is full of so much information and little pieces of history. It' so interesting and an alternative needed and additional perspective on parts of history or just general information relating to women.

    Just wish there had been information on African myths and such too.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Consuella
    5.0 out of 5 stars If you've ever been called a w**re, witch or other names, this is for you!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 November 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Expansive range of information in this book, I want to leave it somewhere for other women to enjoy. It shows just how loved we truly were. Made me want to do more research, as some info was quite amazing, for example info on menstrual blood, witches, whores, Lilith. Plus, it's so big and hefty you can swing it your handbag and use it as self defence.
    21 people found this helpful
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  • Stevie OTW
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love it
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 July 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Not a 'reading' book, but fascinating and a valuable research book. I love this and have had to buy several copies for some of my best women friends who kept borrowing mine.
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  • Junior
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 March 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Fun book, good for the family library
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  • Lupa Noctis
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 August 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I've been reading this book bit by bit, and it is fascinating. Of course, it's also left me far more jaded, but it really is interesting to find out the origins of so many modern practices.Everyone needs to read this
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Rose Green
    5.0 out of 5 stars A good guide
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 June 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This is a well written guide and has been useful to me. Not a lot on each subject, but enough to introduce each subject.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Dannan Tavona
    5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly useful reference
    Reviewed in the United States on 11 May 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Like it or not, there are some biases in the historical record, and some of what the masses are told is more of what some scholars and so-called paragons of church authority say "it should have happened" rather than how it actually was. Too often Victorian scholars were shocked again and again by how free women were and how openly sex was dealt with. More modern scholars are becoming aware of the discrepancies, but I personally believe that would be surprised at how pervasive this bias in the historical record truly is.

    Enter Barbara Walker's invaluable tome. In ten years, only once have I found an incorrect citation. My testing hasn't been exhaustive by any means, but in any examination of the past, especially when it crosses over to the early Christian church, it is an invaluable, independent if sometimes scathing resource. Most people either forget or remain blissfully unaware that the first five centuries of Christianity were sometimes filled with competing variations, and there were hundreds of texts that were considered divinely inspired but never made it into New Testament. Just like Genesis chapter 1 is at odds with Genesis chapter 2, so scholars are finding that the majority of the Gospels and letters once ascribed to Paul are no longer thought to be by him, and the fact that they are at odds with the first half of the New Testament is what has helped put the authorship in doubt.

    My paperback copy was soon worn out by frequent use (spine broke), so when the price of a hardback version with a much sturdier spine became available, I added this book back to my reference library. Even if you disagree with the conclusions, this is very useful in any study of early classic archeology, history, and religious traditions. Recommended.
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  • Amazon カスタマー
    5.0 out of 5 stars 帯も綺麗で包装も過不足なく…
    Reviewed in Japan on 23 July 2024
    Verified Purchase
    予想より速く届きました。
    ありがとう御座いました。
    この神話・伝承事典は
    2000年頃から欲しかったもので
    大変に有り難かったです。
    また機会あればお願い致します。
    Report
  • MK
    5.0 out of 5 stars Must have
    Reviewed in Australia on 15 March 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent reference book!
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  • Yannick
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
    Reviewed in France on 1 August 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Good seller.
    Many informations about feminine worship in history.
    Why 13 used to be à positive number, answer inside !!
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  • vanessa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible
    Reviewed in Canada on 17 March 2014
    Verified Purchase
    As soon as I started reading this I couldn't believe I'd never encountered such a wonderful resource before. Barbara Walker doesn't shy away from the truth of our history. If anyone is curious about what a pre-christian, pre-patriarchy world was like they should check out this incredible encyclopedia. She untangles the history of the downfall of women and the Goddess. A dark history filled with genocide, oppression and survival. Things weren't always the way they are. This encyclopedia carries a message of hope to anyone who longs for the world to be different.
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