The Fire on the Mountain, and Other Stories from Ethiopia and Eritrea

by Harold Courlander, Wolf Leslau, Robert Kane (Illustrator)

"A distinguished collection of folk stories and legends of the peoples of Ethiopia and Eritrea with the wisdom, cynical humor and freshness of the ancient agrarian civilization. . . . These highly sophisticated tales make delightful reading."--Kirkus Reviews. Illustrations.

Genres: Ethiopia, Fiction, African American

133 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1950

Reviews

[Doria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best collections of folktales that I ever have read. The language is clear and unadorned, and the tales themselves are absolute gems, running the gamut of human experience and emotion. The book includes a pronunciation guide, and also notes on the provenance of each story, further enriching the reader's understanding and appreciation of the cultural background which underlies the narratives. This one's a keeper.

[Abby]

A collection of short tales (my favorite). Got it for cheap at a book festival, and it was worth every dollar!

[Parchment Books]

“Ethiopian and Eritrean stories have been told and retold for centuries by cattle herders, camel drivers, and traders. They tell about people and animals, about heroes and villains, and about the triumphs and misfortunes of human life. Harold Coulander and Wolf Leslau traveled to East Africa to record these tales directly from their tellers. Unavailable since 1968, this is a timeless collection of authtentic African folklore.”

Maybe this is perfect reading material as you sip a cup of Kellensoo Sidamo, coffee beans grown in Ethiopia by Project Kellensoo and currently being served up at Leotah’s Place. Ethiopia is, in fact, the source of the original coffee plant, and some scientists believe that anatomically modern humans may have first came from this region as well. Is there a connection there? Some mornings I think so.

I turned right to the story called “The Judgment of the Wind” because I was sure it would contain a connection to the Book of Job. Here’s a preview:

“A great snake hid in the forest and preyed upon many living creatures who happened to pass his way…At last a party of hunters went out to destroy him so that their cattle would be safe…Hearing them approach, [the snake] fled into a cotton field where a farmer was working.

“The farmer was about to drop his tools and run away, but the snake said:

“’Brother, enemies are following me to kill me. Hide me so that I shan’t die.’

“The farmer thought for a moment and then said:

“’Though you have a bad reputation, one must have sympathy for the hunted.’”

Famous last words.

And yes, there is a connection between the Judgment of the Wind and the book of Job. But you’ll have to come here and read it to find out.

Regards,
Librarian

Fire on the Mountain, And Other Stories from Ethiopia and Eritrea
Harold Courlander and Wolf Leslau, illustrations by Robert Kane
$7

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[Brennan Wieland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a collection of tales that, collected from ethiopia over the years. Most of the stories had simple morals, left for you to find what you can out of the story. Some of the stories were difficult for me to understand, but that's understandable I guess. I'd recommend this to most anyone.