Gary R.Varner's 2nd edition of "Strangely Wrought Creatures of Life & Death" with more photos of the gargoyles, Green Men and grotesques found around the world, from Vietnam and Turkey to California and Pittsburgh. A must read for anyone interested in ancient symbols and iconography, historic preservation and the development of religion. Available now from Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and other retailers around the world.

The symbols and strange images that we find in our cemeteries, religious structures, banks and in our parks are the same symbols that have been part of the framework of the human psyche for thousands of years. While contemporary man may think that they are simply decorative manifestations of a by-gone era, they represent the fears, dreams, ideas, beliefs and struggles that humankind has endured since we began to walk upright. This book surveys many of these icons and will give a meaning for them both in the context of ancient history and folklore as well as a meaning that is suitable for our contemporary times. Illustrated with dozens of photographs, this book will be of interest to anyone interested in historic preservation, ancient symbolism, the Green Man and the universal application of imagery. Gary R. Varner has written numerous books on ancient traditions, folklore, the environment and contemporary issues. He is a member of the American Folklore Society and the Foundation for Mythological Studies.