Greek frescos, primitive African paintings, Irish pub signs, and illuminated manuscripts adorn twelve immortal mermaid tales from a wide range of cultures, gracefully told anew and dramatically illustrated in the style of each story's native country.
The author has culled her choices from many cultures--African, European, Asian, Native American and Mediterranean, to name a few--and the resulting stories more than uphold her assertion that mermaids are hardly the "typical legendary heroine--beautiful, kind, and in need of rescue." Rather, these spirits are "fiercely strong" and independent, sometimes generous, sometimes merciless.
Osborne's retellings are seamless, her prose both vigorous and picturesque ("The morning light shone on her sea-green hair like melted butter shines on cabbage"), while Howell's astonishing illustrations provide a virtual crash-course in art history.
Sea or Islands