Fearsome Creatures of Florida

In medieval history, a bestiary was a collection of short descriptions about all kinds of animals that often blended the real with the mythical. Medieval writers and illustrators sought to shock, entertain, and edify their audiences with moral lessons drawn from the traits of exotic and imagined creatures.

Today we can get our fill of strange, even dangerous, creatures in zoos, photographs, and TV shows, furthering our fascination with beasts of legend and lore. In this program, writer John Henry Fleming discusses the history of bestiaries, modern examples, and the origins of his own book, Fearsome Creatures of Florida, a collection of legendary and invented Florida creatures including the Skunk Ape, Gordo the Monkeynaut, and the Were-Panther. Creepy readings and animations included!

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