First published between 1932 and 1940, this is a three-volume study of the historical development of literature. It explores the oral and written literatures of regions from Iceland and the British Isles, to Russia, the Balkans, Africa, India and the Pacific, placing them in their historical context and examining similarities between them. The authors discuss both ancient and recent texts, illustrating the connections within each group and considering the question of whether all literary growth is influenced by common factors. Praised on publication as '… a work that is not, probably could not be, superseded' (International Journal of Comparative Sociology), the book remains a benchmark for those studying comparative literature or the history of literary criticism. Volume 3, which includes a summary of the literary categories used in the book, surveys the oral literature of the Tatar and Polynesian peoples, along with that of a selection of African ethnic groups.

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Product details
- Date Published: February 2011
- format: Multiple copy pack
- isbn: 9781108016186
- length: 18 pages
- dimensions: 320 x 250 x 70 mm
- weight: 1.44kg
- availability: Temporarily unavailable - available from TBC
Table of Contents
Preface
Part I. The Oral Literature of the Tatars:
1. Introduction
2. Heroic poetry and saga
3. The heroic milieu. Individualism in the heroic poems
4. Non-heroic poetry and saga
5. Historical and unhistorical elements in heroic poetry and saga
6. Poetry and saga relating to gods and spirits, and mantic poetry
7. Antiquarian poetry and saga. Gnomic and descriptive literature. Poetry and saga relating to unspecified individuals
8. The texts
9. Recitation and composition
10. The shaman
Part II. The Oral Literature of Polynesia:
1. Introduction
2. Saga and poetry relating to the migration period and to later periods
3. Non-heroic saga and poetry relating to legendary characters of the prehistoric and later periods
4. Saga and poetry relating to divine beings, and mantic poetry
5. Saga and poetry relating to unspecified individuals
6. Dramatic and ritual poetry
7. Antiquarian, gnomic and descriptive literature
8. Recitation and composition
9. The Tohunga, Kaula, etc.
A note on the oral literature of the Iban or the Sea Dyaks of North Borneo
Part III. Notes on the Oral Literature of Some African Peoples: Introduction to Part III
1. Abyssinia
2
The Galla
3. The Northern Bantu
4. The Yoruba
5. The Tuareg
A note on English ballad poetry
Part 4. A General Survey:
1. Written and oral literature
2. The distribution of literary types
3. Heroic and non-heroic
4. Heroic narrative poetry
5. Poetry and saga relating to unspecified individuals
6. Theological literature
7. Antiquarian learning
8. Gnomic and descriptive literature
9. Mantic literature
10. Recitation and composition
11. Authorship
Postscript
Index.
Authors
H. Munro Chadwick
Nora K. Chadwick