The Hero’s Journey: The Life and Work of Joseph Campbell - Hardcover

Campbell, Joseph

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1862045984 ISBN 13: 9781862045989

Publisher: Element, 1999

Synopsis

This is a collection of a series of interviews in which the mythologist Joseph Campbell tells his own story, from his Catholic upbringing and early interest in Native American culture, through Paris in the 1920s and into the world of modern mythmakers such as George Lucas.

Joseph Campbell, arguably one of the greatest mythologist of our time, was certainly one of our greatest STORYTELLERS. This book recounts his own quest and conveys the excitement of his life-long exploration of our mythic traditions, which he called "the one great story of mankind". The book interweaves conversations with Campbell and some of the popel people he inspired, and includes photographs from Campbell's family archive to provide a window on his world.

About this title

Review:

Joseph Campbell was arguably the greatest authority on mythology of this century; his The Hero With a Thousand Faces and Masks of God series have had an incalculable effect on readers from students of religion and anthropology to creative artists such as George Lucas, creator of StarWars. The Hero's Journey is the story of Campbell's life and life's work. From his childhood discovery of stories of Native Americans, it follows his burgeoning fascination with mythology. The format of the book is unusual, being largely transcripts from interviews with Campbell for the 1988 TV documentary film, The Hero's Journey: The World of Joseph Campbell, supplemented by extracts from question and answer sessions from his final series of lectures. Initially this might seem off-putting; oral interviews rarely work so well when put raw onto the page. But this book works beautifully, partly, no doubt, because of the care in selecting and editing the transcripts, but mainly because of the sense of excitement that Campbell still displayed in mythology right to the end of his long life (1904--1987). There's a bubbling delight, almost playfulness, which infuses almost every page. Perhaps this is because Campbell's study and scholarship was his own; having abandoned his PhD research, he was never forced into the academic mould "under the supervision of some professor who had his excitement, if he ever had it, a lifetime ago." Campbell was not only highly respected and an inspiration to all who read his works, he arguably became a living myth himself. This richly illustrated book, filled throughout with fascinating observations and deep insights, will become part of the canon of that mythology. --David V. Barrett

Review:

"A fascinating series of dialogues with Joseph Campbell, revealing at every turn fresh aspects of his genius, wisdom, and understanding. I hope this much-needed book will be widely read and pondered."
--Richard Adams, author of "Watership Down"

"We don't have enough personal history regarding Joseph Campbell, so [this] book fills a real need."
--Michael Murphy, cofounder of the Esalen Institute

"Blissful! Illuminating! The voice of the master storyteller himself...An outstanding introduction to the great teacher and personalizer of our myths and muses."
--Noel Riley Fitch, author of "Sylvia Beach and the Lost Generation"

"These stories reveal how [Campbell's] sense of the oneness of mythology began and grew over the course of his long and event-filled life journey. As we read them, we experience the warm human presence of a man who spent his life learning from others as well as teaching. Recommended."
--"Library Journal"
A fascinating series of dialogues with Joseph Campbell, revealing at every turn fresh aspects of his genius, wisdom, and understanding. I hope this much-needed book will be widely read and pondered.
Richard Adams, author of Watership Down
We don t have enough personal history regarding Joseph Campbell, so [this] book fills a real need.
Michael Murphy, cofounder of the Esalen Institute
Blissful! Illuminating! The voice of the master storyteller himself...An outstanding introduction to the great teacher and personalizer of our myths and muses.
Noel Riley Fitch, author of Sylvia Beach and the Lost Generation
These stories reveal how [Campbell s] sense of the oneness of mythology began and grew over the course of his long and event-filled life journey. As we read them, we experience the warm human presence of a man who spent his life learning from others as well as teaching. Recommended.
Library Journal
"

About this edition

• Publisher: Element
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 1862045984
• ISBN 13: 9781862045989
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 288
• Editor: Cousineau Phil