". . . a cross-cultural consideration of kinship and family relations as captured in traditional folktales and other lore genres. . . . This valuable contribution in the areas of anthropology and folk literature will be a treasured acquisition . . . " —Library Journal

" . . . rare, intriguing, and highly readable . . . presents tales from the Arab world in a fluent and attractive way." —Ulrich Marzolph

This cross-cultural examination of kinship and affinal relations as expressed in traditional folktales is based on field data compiled by the author. The gender factor and its impact on the form, structure, and contents of each item are explored in conjunction with the concepts of multiple role-playing, role transition, and role-strain.