Prophecies & Oracles Myths & Tales

Whether it stems from a fundamental human need for certainty – to know what will happen to us, and to know that at some level fate is at play and we can rest easy at night since we may as well submit to our 'lot' – or whether grand predictions provide an irresistibly compelling narrative arc, dramatic prophecies and utterings of wise oracles are a prominent feature of world mythology and folklore. This gripping collection gathers together a wide range of tales of prediction: of disaster, of fulfilment, of origin; spoken by oracles, seers and spirits or beheld in visions and dreams; from the Norse Norns weaving the future in 'The Story of Nornagesta' to the flood prophecy of the Chinese tale 'The Spirits of the Yellow River'.

The Flame Tree Gothic Fantasy, Classic Stories and Epic Tales collections bring together the entire range of myth, folklore and modern short fiction. Highlighting the roots of suspense, supernatural, science fiction and mystery stories the books in Flame Tree Collections series are beautifully presented, perfect as a gift and offer a lifetime of reading pleasure.

Professor Richard Stoneman is an honorary visiting professor at the University of Exeter. The core of his research and interest has been the continuity of the Greek world and Greek tradition up to the present day. He is Series Editor for Understanding Classics, which aims to introduce major writers of the classical and early Christian worlds, providing a map of the scholarship and critical response for the benefit of students as well as scholars in other fields. He has written anthologies and travel guides reflecting these interests, one notable title being The Ancient Oracles: Making the Gods Speak (Yale University Press, 2011). His most recent books are a biography of Xerxes (Yale University Press, 2015) and The Greek Experience of India (Princeton University Press, 2019).