A Fire In My Heart

There are estimated to be more than 40 million Kurds throughout the world today, with about 1/3 living outside of the Middle East and Kurdistan (a region that stretches over Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran). As a minority in these countries, the Kurds have struggled for independence throughout history and into recent times; and have often been oppressed, persecuted, and deported from their land. The purpose of this volume is to introduce readers to the Kurdish people, their cultural traditions, and their stories.This unique collection includes many tales never before published in English. It can serve as both a resource for educators and librarians who work with Kurdish children and their families abroad, and as a resource for storytellers, folklorists and scholars. Some twenty-five tales are presented, representing all regions of Kurdistan and the four main Kurdish dialects - from the Kurdish Cinderella story and animal stories to stories based on legendary figures (e.g., Rustim Ezal - the Kurdish Hercules) - organised by tale type. Many of these stories have been collected from contemporary Kurdish storytellers, with others translated and adapted from transcripts of oral tellings and small tale collections in the Kurdish dialect. Background information on the people, their history, their land, and their customs is provided, along with colour photos, a glossary, and sample recipes, crafts, and games.