Why are some carpets magic? What is a wish tree? And where can the fountain of eternal life be found? Internationally acclaimed storyteller Sally Pomme Clayton provides the answers to these and many other intriguing questions in this enchanted journey through Central Asia. Traveling through the region herself, she accumulated a wealth of folklore and knowledge of nomadic cultures. Now, retracing her steps through Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan, the author recounts 12 exotic tales that were shared with her in storytelling tents. Sophie Herxheimer's brilliantly patterned artwork, together with a glossary and brief notes, add to the collection to reveal the richness of these little-known, faraway lands.

Why are some carpets magic? What is a wish tree? And where can the fountain of eternal life be found? Internationally acclaimed storyteller Sally Pomme Clayton provides the answers to these and many other intriguing questions in this enchanted journey through Central Asia. Traveling through the region herself, she accumulated a wealth of folklore and knowledge of nomadic cultures. Now, retracing her steps through Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan, the author recounts 12 exotic tales that were shared with her in storytelling tents. Sophie Herxheimer's brilliantly patterned artwork, together with a glossary and brief notes, add to the collection to reveal the richness of these little-known, faraway lands. Acclaimed storyteller Sally Pomme Clayton cofounded The Company of Storytellers with Ben Haggarty and Hugh Lupton, spearheading the revival of storytelling in the U.K. She tours throughout Britain, often performing at the British Museum, the Barbican, and the National Gallery. She was a Royal Literary Fellow at the University of Westminster and City and Guilds of London Art School. The author of Tales Told in Tents, Amazons!, Persephone, and Rama and Sita, she currently teaches at Rose Bruford College in London, where she lives.