Beyond Nine Forests by Moni Georgieva Sheehan

Beyond Nine Forests by Moni Georgieva Sheehan

Within the fragrant forests and beautiful mountains of Bulgaria lies a land of gold, a hidden world of ancient myth and folklore, of shape-shifting dragons, wild women, giant-hearted heroes, vampires and demons of the night.

Beyond Nine Forests is a fabulous collection of Bulgarian traditional tales for adults that range from the magical to the macabre, from fairy tale to heroic epic. In addition, the author delves into Bulgaria's folklore and ancestral mythologies going back to ancient Thracian times, to explore the roots of these stunning stories and their deeper meanings.

Acclaimed British-Bulgarian oral storyteller Moni Georgieva Sheehan has retold the tales in a way that is true to the heart of the original narratives in this trailblazing work. Translated from authentic sources and little known in the West, they cross the boundaries of time and space to speak to the heart, mind and soul.

With a foreword by Professor Ronald Hutton, the book is beautifully illustrated with full-colour artwork from some of Bulgaria's finest artists.

"The best book that the storytelling revival has produced so far... Mindblowingly fabulous.
"This is a book bursting with deeply researched, fully lived and utterly heart felt knowledge. The retellings make exemplary texts. There is an assured, organic, strongly rooted rhythm in the use of words. And, in terms of content and plot, the stories - long or short, heavy or light - are all deeply satisfying."
Ben Haggarty, Artistic Director, The Crick-Crack Club.

"A truly magical read that I have been waiting for forever."
Csenge Virag Zalka, International Storyteller and Author.

"A mesmerising read - you will find it hard to put down."
Dimana Trankova, Vagabond, Bulgaria's English Magazine.

"An unforgettable adventure for all readers."
Nikolai Vukov, Associate Professor, Institute of Folklore Studies, Bulgaria.

"A book to treasure for a lifetime."
Dessislava Stefanova, Leader of the London Bulgarian Choir.

Moni Georgieva Sheehan inherited her love of Bulgaria from her mother, and is inspired by Bulgaria's rich traditional culture and its roots in the past. She trained in Bulgarian folk dance in Plovdiv, formed the ground-breaking British-Bulgarian storytelling company A Spell In Time in 1995, and has featured on the BBC World Service, Bulgarian national TV and radio, and in Newsweek magazine. She is also a founder member of the award-winning London Bulgarian Choir, and has established a thriving oral storytelling group in Bulgaria to help preserve the country's rich oral heritage. She lives in London with her husband.