The lure of the honey bird : the story tellers of Ethiopia

In 1967, at the age of 23, Elizabeth Laird set off for Addis Ababa to take up her first teaching post. She was introduced to Haile Selassie, made a pilgrimage across the mountains on foot to the ancient city of Lalibela, hitched a ride on an oil tanker across the Danakil Desert, and was arrested for a murder she had not committed. Back in Britain, Laird established herself as a major author of fiction for children and young adults, but she always wanted to return to Ethiopia. Her chance came in the late 1990s, when the British Council in Addis Ababa invited her to collect folk stories from every region of the country. Encountering ex-guerrilla fighters, camel traders, Coptic nuns and tribespeople en route, Laird has written a remarkable account of her journey interwoven with a treasure trove of stories featuring princes and maidens, snakes and lions, zombies and hyena-women. In 1967, At The Age Of 23, Elizabeth Laird Set Off For Addis Ababa To Take Up Her First Teaching Post. She Was Introduced To Haile Selassie, Made A Pilgrimage Across The Mountain On Foot To The Ancient City Of Lalibela, Hitched A Ride On An Oil Tanker Across The Danakil Desert, And Was Arrested For A Murder She Did Not Commit. Back In Britain, Laird Established Herself As A Major Author Of Fiction For Children And Young Adults, But She Always Wanted To Return To Ethiopia. Her Chance Came In The Late 1990s, When The British Council In Addis Ababa Invited Her To Collect Folk Stories From Every Region Of The Country. Encountering Ex-guerrilla Fighters, Camel Traders, Coptic Nuns And Tribespeople En Route, Laird Has Written A Remarkable Account Of Her Journey Interwoven With A Treasure Trove Of Stories Featuring Princes And Maidens, Snakes And Lions, Zombies And Hyena-women. Addis Ababa -- Jesters And Zombies In Amhara -- Forty Dogs In Tigray -- The Hyena King Of Afar -- Tricksters In Gambela -- The Magic Cow In The Forest -- Mighty Queens In Sidama And Wolayita -- The Man Who Grew Feathers In Oromia -- Echoes Of Baghdad In Harar -- The Lion's Bride Of Somalia -- The Porcupine Man Of The Beni Shangul -- The Bard Of Bonga -- A Chanceful Person. Elizabeth Laird. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.

The acclaimed author travels across Ethiopia collecting folktales in this travelogue featuring many of the fabulous stories she heard. In 1967, at the age of 23, Elizabeth Laird set off for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital city, to start her first teaching job. She was introduced to Emperor Haile Selassie, made a pilgrimage across the mountains on foot to the ancient city of Lalibela, hitched a ride on an oil tanker across the Danakil Desert, and was arrested—briefly—for a murder she did not commit. Back in Britain, Laird established herself as a major author of fiction for children and young adults, but she always wanted to return to Ethiopia. Her chance came in the late 1990s, when the British Council in Addis Ababa invited her to collect folk stories from every region of the country. Encountering ex-guerrilla fighters, camel traders, Coptic nuns and tribespeople en route, Laird has written a remarkable account of her journey interwoven with a treasure trove of stories featuring princes and maidens, snakes and lions, zombies and hyena-women.

A bestselling, award-winning author turns her hand to a work of travel memoir with this book. In 1967, at the age of 23, Elizabeth Laird set off for Addis Ababa to take up her first teaching post. Back in Britain, Laird established herself as a major author of fiction for children and young adults, but she always wanted to return to Ethiopia. Her chance came in the late 1990s, when the British Council in Addis Ababa invited her to collect folk stories from every region of the country and she encountered former guerrilla fighters, camel traders, Coptic nuns, and tribespeople en route. Laird has written a remarkable account of her journey interwoven with a treasure trove of stories featuring princes and maidens, snakes and lions, zombies and hyena-women. Best-selling, award-winning author Elizabeth Laird has written this stunning memoir describing her travels to the remote regions of Ethiopia.