A fascinating and beautifully illustrated journey across the world and through the centuries in search of the sea monster.''They rave for food with unceasing frenzy, being always ahungered and never abating the gluttony of their terrible maw.'' Pliny the ElderThis absorbing exploration of sea monsters in all their tentacular forms is a deep dive into the world of sirens, mermaids, Scylla and kraken from 3C BCE to the modern day. With writings from ancient myths, early scientific natural histories and iconic literature, intertwined with wonderful engravings, diagrams and paintings. These tales offer a unique lens on the histories of societies and cultures around the world, taking in significant events like the Age of Sail, the Enlightenment and Darwinian evolution.With their immense size, claws, tentacles and bloodlust, monsters embody our greatest fears: the unknown, the dark, nature and even ourselves. As stories passed through generations, they were analogues for dangerous weather events, foreign invaders, enemy nations, physical phenomena and real animals.Prema Arasu brings together excerpts from Filipino, Polynesian and Aboriginal Australian myths, Beowulf, Moby-Dick and many other works by authors such as Homer, HP Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe, Jules Verne, HG Wells. With beautifully gory artwork and lively introductions to each piece, this gorgeous book is sure to lure you in and drag you down…