Snakes: An Anthology of Serpent Tales

The organisation of this collection allows us to appreciate snakes from both a profane and a sacred perspective. Snakes are also presented here as creatures inhabiting the garden of life -- for better or worse, while another section presents them as mortal combatants. Yet another grouping of selections describes the exotic nature of snake encounters. A final set takes us into the world of folklore and mythology. In a piece written for this book, Gail Godwin, whose love for her garden embraces the garter snakes that live there, captures the elusive mystery that seems to attach itself to our relationship with snakes. She writes, "No matter how often I go looking for my snakes, I always scream and clutch my heart when we first make contact. The thrill of a snake's sheer otherness never seems to wear off." That thrill is at the heart of this book.