William Alexander Clouston

William Alexander Clouston
William Alexander Clouston (1843–1896) was a Scottish folklorist, editor, and scholar known for his expertise in comparative mythology and traditional narratives. He specialized in tracing parallels between Eastern and Western folklore, showcasing the interconnectedness of global storytelling traditions. His notable works include "Popular Tales and Fictions" and "The Book of Noodles," where he compiled and analyzed a vast range of folk stories and humorous anecdotes. Clouston's contributions helped bridge cultural understandings of myth and folklore, and his collections remain valuable resources in the study of world literature and mythology.

Author's Books:


I SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF THE PERSIAN POET SAADI—CHARACTER OF HIS WRITINGS—THE “GULISTÁN”—PREFACES TO BOOKS—PREFACE TO THE “GULISTÁN”—EASTERN POETS IN PRAISE OF SPRINGTIDE. It is remarkable how very little the average general reader knows regarding the great Persian poet SaádГѓ­ and his writings. His name is perhaps more or less familiar to casual readers from its being... more...

PREFACE. Cynics may ask, how many have profited by the innumerable proverbs and maxims of prudence which have been current in the world time out of mind? They will say that their only use is to repeat them after some unhappy wight has “gone wrong.” When, for instance, a man has played “ducks and drakes” with his money, the fact at once calls up the proverb which declares that “wilful waste... more...