Eskimo Folk-Tales by Knud Rasmussen and W. J. Alexander Worster

(2 User reviews)   3305
English
Have you ever wondered what stories people told when the northern lights danced overhead? 'Eskimo Folk-Tales' isn't one story, but dozens—a whole world of them. It's a collection of myths, legends, and survival wisdom from the Inuit, gathered by an explorer who actually lived with them. You'll meet talking animals, clever tricksters, terrifying ice monsters, and ghosts who walk on the frozen sea. Forget everything you know about fairy tales; these stories feel ancient, raw, and deeply connected to a landscape of endless ice and midnight sun. It’s a direct line to a way of seeing the world that’s completely different from our own. It’s not always cozy, but it’s absolutely mesmerizing.
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WITH THE CAMEL CORPS UP THE NILE. By COUNT GLEICHEN, Grenadier Guards. With numerous Sketches by the Author. Second Edition. Large crown 8vo, 9s. _By W. FRASER RAE._ AUSTRIAN HEALTH RESORTS; and the Bitter Waters of Hungary. By W. FRASER RAE. Crown 8vo, 5s. _By EDWARD KENNARD._ NORWEGIAN SKETCHES: FISHING IN STRANGE WATERS. By EDWARD KENNARD. Illustrated with 30 beautiful Sketches printed by The Automatic Engraving Co. Second Edition. Oblong folio, 21s. A Set of Six Hand-coloured Plates, 21s.; in Oak Frames, 42s. _By ATHOL MAUDSLAY._ HIGHWAYS AND HORSES. By ATHOL MAUDSLAY. With numerous Illustrations. Demy 8vo, 21s. _ILLUSTRATED WITH PORTRAITS AND VIEWS._ A GIRL’S LIFE EIGHTY YEARS AGO. Selections from the Letters of ELIZA SOUTHGATE BOWNE. With an Introduction by CLARENCE COOK. Illustrated with Portraits and Views. Fcap. 4to, 12s. _By COLONEL G. B. MALLESON, C.S.I._ PRINCE EUGENE OF SAVOY. By COLONEL G. B. MALLESON, C.S.I. With Portrait and Maps. Crown 8vo, 6s. _By PROFESSOR WRIGHTSON._ THE PRINCIPLES OF AGRICULTURAL PRACTICE AS AN INSTRUCTIONAL SUBJECT. By Prof. J. WRIGHTSON, M.R.A.C., F.C.S., etc.; Examiner in Agriculture to the Science and Art Department; Professor of Agriculture in the Normal School of Science and Royal School of Mines; President of the College of Agriculture, Downton, near Salisbury, etc. With Geological Map. Crown 8vo, 5s. _By PROFESSOR J. LE CONTE._ EVOLUTION AND ITS RELATIONS TO RELIGIOUS THOUGHT. By J. LE CONTE, Professor of Geology and Natural History in the University of California. Crown 8vo, 6s. BOOKS PUBLISHED BY CHAPMAN & HALL, LIMITED. _ABLETT (T. R.)_— WRITTEN DESIGN. Oblong, sewed, 6d. _ABOUT (EDMOND)_— HANDBOOK OF SOCIAL ECONOMY; OR, THE WORKER’S A B C. From the French. With a Biographical and Critical Introduction by W. FRASER RAE. Second Edition, revised. Crown 8vo, 4s. AFRICAN FARM, STORY OF AN. By OLIVE SCHREINER (Ralph Iron). New Edition. Crown 8vo, cloth, 2s. _ANDERSON (ANDREW A.)_— TWENTY-FIVE YEARS IN A WAGGON IN THE GOLD REGIONS OF AFRICA. With Illustrations and Map. Second Edition. Demy 8vo, 12s. AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE (LECTURES ON), and OTHER PROCEEDINGS OF THE INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE, SOUTH KENSINGTON, 1883-4. Crown 8vo, sewed, 2s. _AVELING (EDWARD), D.Sc., Fellow of University College, London_— MECHANICS AND EXPERIMENTAL SCIENCE. As required for the Matriculation Examination of the University of London. MECHANICS. With numerous Woodcuts. Crown 8vo, 6s. Key to Problems in ditto, crown 8vo, 3s. 6d. MAGNETISM AND ELECTRICITY. Crown 8vo. LIGHT AND HEAT. Crown 8vo. _BADEN-POWELL (GEORGE)_— STATE AID AND STATE INTERFERENCE. Illustrated by Results in Commerce and Industry. Crown 8vo, 9s. _BARKER (G. F. RUSSELL) and DAUGLISH (M. G.), of Lincoln’s Inn, Barristers-at-Law_— HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL HANDBOOK. Second Edition. Crown 8vo, 2s. 6d. _BARTLEY (G. C. T.)_— A HANDY BOOK FOR GUARDIANS OF THE POOR. Crown 8vo, cloth, 3s. BAYARD: HISTORY OF THE GOOD CHEVALIER, SANS PEUR ET SANS REPROCHE. Compiled by the LOYAL SERVITEUR. With over 200 Illustrations. Royal 8vo, 21s. _BEATTY-KINGSTON (W.)_— A WANDERER’S NOTES. 2 vols. demy 8vo, 24s. MONARCHS I HAVE MET. 2 vols. demy 8vo, 24s. MUSIC AND MANNERS: Personal Reminiscences and Sketches of Character. 2 vols. demy 8vo, 30s. _BELL (JAMES, Ph.D., &c.), Principal of the Somerset House Laboratory_— THE CHEMISTRY OF FOODS. With Microscopic Illustrations. PART I. TEA, COFFEE, COCOA, SUGAR, ETC. Large crown 8vo, 2s. 6d. PART II. MILK, BUTTER, CHEESE, CEREALS, PREPARED STARCHES, ETC. Large crown 8vo, 3s. _BENSON (W.)_— UNIVERSAL PHONOGRAPHY. To classify sounds of Human Speech, and to denote them by one set of Symbols for easy Writing and Printing. 8vo, sewed, 1s. MANUAL OF THE SCIENCE OF COLOUR. Coloured Frontispiece and Illustrations. 12mo, cloth, 2s. 6d. PRINCIPLES OF THE SCIENCE OF COLOUR. Small 4to, cloth, 15s. _BINGHAM...

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This isn't a novel with a single plot. Think of it as a campfire shared across generations. Explorer Knud Rasmussen collected these tales directly from Inuit storytellers in the early 1900s. The book is a window into their universe, filled with stories that explain how the world works, teach lessons, and simply entertain during the long Arctic nights.

The Story

You'll bounce from quick, funny fables about Raven the trickster to haunting legends of the qivittoq, a person who runs into the mountains and becomes a vengeful spirit. There are creation myths, adventures of great hunters, and chilling encounters with the tupilaq, a monster made by a shaman. Each story is a short, powerful glimpse into a culture where humans, animals, and the spirit world are tightly woven together.

Why You Should Read It

I was blown away by how different the logic of these stories feels. There's a stark beauty and practicality to them. A story might explain why the sea is salty, warn against pride, or simply describe how to survive a bear attack. The humor is dry, the dangers are real, and the magic feels like a natural part of the frozen landscape. It makes you see the Arctic not as an empty wasteland, but as a world brimming with life and meaning.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone curious about mythology, folklore, or human culture. If you loved Neil Gaiman's 'Norse Mythology' or just enjoy a really good, strange story, dive in. It’s also fantastic for short-burst reading—one or two tales at a time. Just be ready for a perspective that’s as bracing and unforgettable as the Arctic wind.



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Sarah Torres
1 year ago

Read this on my tablet, looks great.

Kimberly Ramirez
1 year ago

I had low expectations initially, however the emotional weight of the story is balanced perfectly. Don't hesitate to start reading.

5
5 out of 5 (2 User reviews )

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