The Way of the Animal Powers. Volume 1: Historical Atlas of World Mythology.

CAMPBELL, Joseph [Richard Adams].

Item Number: 95632

San Francisco: Alfred Van Der Marck Editions/ Harper & Row, 1983.

First edition of this work on mythology by the author of The Hero With A Thousand Faces. Quarto, original cloth, illustrated throughout. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “For Richard Adams, Animal Master Supreme, with warm good wishes. Joseph Campbell 9/15/84.” Best known as the author of Watership Down, English novelist Richard Adams was heavily influenced by American professor Joseph Campbell’s work in comparative mythology, specifically the concept of the monomyth, or journey of the archetypal hero that can be applied as a common template to a range of mythological narratives. Popularized in The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Campbell described the narrative pattern of the hero’s journey as follows: “A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.” He and other scholars described the narratives of Odysseus, Gautama Buddha, Moses, and Jesus Christ in terms of the monomyth. Adams’ Watership Down exhibits strong parallels to the epic themes of Homer’s Odyssey, following a group of anthropomorphised rabbits who encounter perils and temptations on their journey to establish a new home after their warren is destroyed. Bookplate of Richard Adams, fine in a near fine dust jacket. An exceptional example.