A popular phenomenon in the modern era, sightings of mermaids have been recorded throughout ancient history, appearing in times of trouble and disaster. These elusive creatures exist powerfully in imaginative literature and have become a source of inspiration for artists throughout the world. This delightful illustrated history covers mermaids in Myth, Folklore, Art, Music, and Film, as well as a history of mermaid sightings and their role in seafaring cultures. AUTHOR: Russ Thorne (author) is a freelance journalist who contributes to print titles including the Independent, I and the London Evening Standard along with various magazines and websites. His previous books include several works on tattoos and he has written about art, film and music in Vampires and Zombies for Flame Tree. A lifelong fan of horror movies, he can recall his first on-screen scare watching Jaws aged five and has been hooked to the sensation ever since. SELLING POINTS: . Visually stunning illustrations. . Featuring fresh and varied works from contemporary artists. . Beautiful giftbook for the millions of genre devotees. . Punchy, fascinating text on mythology, fantasy art and culture. . Follows our hugely successful book on Unicorns.