The King's Drum

A collection of African folk tales (1963)

Author

Publisher

Printing Details

First UK edition. Hardback in dustwrapper. 20.5 × 13.5cm, 125pp.

"Here is a collection of folk tales from many peoples and many regions of Africa. Some of them reflect ways of thinking and of living which will soon have disappeared completely. Others comment humorously upon unchanging qualities in the nature of man. Here are tales of heroes and mock-heroes, human and animal tricksters, here are riddles and dilemmas, and legends that explain natural phenomena. Many point a moral, or illustrate a popular saying, and some of them, like 'The Stone Lute' from Northern Rhodesia, set up an uncanny echo of themes found in folk tales of Europe, Asia, and America. The stories are typically African, yet leave the reader with a strong send of the universality of certain truths, and not always flattering ones."

Condition

A decent copy. Both book and wrapper are foxed to the edges but the wrapper is now within a protective sleeve and the book remains in strong readable condition.