Skip to main content

Distributed for Reaktion Books

Hyena

Hyenas are almost universally regarded as nasty, scheming charlatans that skulk in the back alleyways of the animal kingdom. They have been scorned for centuries as little more than scavenging carrion-eaters, vandals, and thieves. Here to restore the Hyena’s reputation is Mikita Brottman, who offers an alternate view of these mistreated and misunderstood creatures and proves that they are complex, intelligent, and highly sociable animals.

Investigating representations of the hyena throughout history, Brottman divulges that the hyena, though shrouded in taboo, has been the source of talismanic objects since the ancient Greek and Roman empires. She discovers that many cultures use parts of the hyena—from excrement and blood to genitalia and hair—to make charms that both avert evil and promote fertility. Brottman also considers representations of hyenas in today’s popular fiction, including The Lion King and The Life of Pi,where they are often depicted as villains, cowardly henchmen, or clowns, while ignoring their more noble qualities. Rightly returning hyenas to their proper place in the animal pantheon, this richly illustrated book will be enjoyed by any animal lover with an interest in the unusual and offbeat.

  Click here for a special, limited-time offer for the entire Animal series.


167 pages | 60 color plates, 40 halftones | 5 3/8 x 7 1/2 | © 2012

Animal

Biological Sciences: Natural History


Reaktion Books image

View all books from Reaktion Books

Table of Contents

Introduction

1. Evolution and Distribution
2. The Hyena and Human History
3. Hyena Magic
4. Wargs and Scrunts
5. Bad Rap

Timeline of the Hyena
References
Select Bibliography
Associations and Websites
Acknowledgements
Photo Acknowledgements
Index

Be the first to know

Get the latest updates on new releases, special offers, and media highlights when you subscribe to our email lists!

Sign up here for updates about the Press