MYTHOLOGICAL CREATURES: A Pictorial Dictionary

Curious about the Yemanja, the Hippocampus, the Acephali, the Mannanan Mac-Lir, the Simurgh. . . ? Well Paulita Sedgwick was, and she shares enough of her findings about 400 or so mythical creatures to delight us with their fabulous forms and origins, In some cases she also reveals enough to answer the questions of those who may have met say Ophion or the Hulderfolk in the course of their reading, but too often she doesn't bother to reveal the cultural and literary provenance. The combination of literal drawings and fun-loving definitions makes irresistible browsing -- after all one doesn't meet an icthyocentaur every day -- but Sedgwick's evanescent scholarship leaves you unsatisfied.