First published 2008
Catherynne M. Valente's "A Guide to Folktales in Fragile Dialects" is a poetic exploration of endangered languages and the stories they carry. Weaving together myths, legends, and folk traditions from around the world, Valente's verses capture the beauty and fragility of these vanishing oral traditions. From the remote villages of Siberia to the disappearing island communities of the Pacific, readers are immersed in a tapestry of cultures, each with its own rich heritage of storytelling. As languages face the threat of extinction, Valente's work stands as a lyrical testament to the power of words to preserve the human experience.
Genres: literary-fiction, poetry, folklore, 21st-century
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: cultural-preservation, poetic-narrative
Setting: Pacific, Siberia
168 pages · Hardcover · Norilana Books