Mermaids

This is the first history of a unique family tree, traveling back 3,000 years to discover the enduring myths and the vibrant folklore that continue to enchant us and ensure the mermaid's survival. A woman to the waist and fish below, mermaids have inspired numerous artists and spawned countless tales, from Hans Christian Andersen's Little Mermaid to the West African Mami Wata legend. She has been found in Assyrian reliefs, illuminated in medieval bestiaries, painted onto pub signs and Pre-Raphaelite canvas, inked into skin at tattoo parlors, sketched by Picasso with a Communist hammer and sickle in her hand, cast in Hollywood movies, and graffitied onto city walls. Full color illustrations throughout.