 |
|
|
|
|
|
by Lesa Bellevie
Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets, by Barbara Walker (Harper San Francisco, 1983)
(This review was also submitted to Amazon.com.)
Although I agree with the other critical reviews of this book in that it is unscholarly in the extreme, I encourage the reader
to decide for him/herself. One needs only to check Walker's references to see her credibility evaporate. Dig into an article,
check the references, look up the passage to which she refers and see if it matches up. I've found that in a majority of
instances, Walker takes *extreme* liberty in interpreting material, takes material out of context, or blatantly invents
"facts" to support her perspective.
My area of expertise is Mary Magdalene, so naturally, that is the article in this book that I am most qualified to critique.
One of the texts she quotes as historical fact is actually a book of *legends* about Christian saints from the 13th century
("The Golden Legend," Jacobus de Voragine), something that should *never* be used as a source of factual information. She
often quotes Marjorie Malvern, author of "Venus in Sackcloth," but in most cases either misquotes or takes comments
completely out of context. Don't let the fact that some of her sources are out of print discourage you - dig until you find
the truth for yourself. That's what library cards are for. If your library doesn't have her source, ask about free
interlibrary loan. You can do this! Decide for yourself!
Barbara Walker's book should be, if anything, an excellent exercise in critical thinking on the reader's part. Find a topic
on which you are well informed and read the corresponding entry. I'm certain you will find that she has twisted your area of
interest into an unintelligible, unsubstantiated mess.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
