Description
Edward Topsell's "The History of Four-Footed Beasts, Serpents and Insects", is a medieval exposition on Zoology. Published in 1658, nearly 30 years after Topsell's death, his book explores the history and legends of real and mythical animals.
Topsell was not a naturalist but a clergyman, and he used scriptures and poetry as sources just as much as the natural world. He mentions fantastical and mythical creations such as the lamia, a creature with a scaled, catlike body and the face of a woman, the mantichora, a creature with a lion's body, a man's face and a distorted smile, and the hydra, a creature with seven heads and a serpent's body. He also mentions unicorns and discusses how elephants worship the sun.
Topsell's previous books had been grounded in religious themes, and although "The History of Four-Footed Beasts, Serpents and Insects" is not without said themes, it's a puzzling and enjoyable departure from his usual work.
This History of Four-Footed Beasts is split between this first and the second volume, with Serpents and Insects in the following volumes.
Author: Edward Topsell
Publisher: Left of Brain Onboarding Pty Ltd
Published: 10/06/2021
Pages: 986
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 3.12lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 2.20d
ISBN13: 9781396320750
ISBN10: 139632075X
BISAC Categories:
- Nature | Animals | Wildlife
- Nature | Essays
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