First published in 1855, Bulfinch's Mythology has introduced
generations of readers to the great myths of Greece and Rome, as well as
time-honored legends of Norse mythology, medieval, and chivalric tales,
Oriental fables, and more. Readers have long admired Bulfinch's versions
for the skill with which he wove various versions of a tale into a
coherent whole, the vigor of his storytelling, and his abundant
cross-references to poetry and painting, demonstrating the relationship
of literature and art. *
*Now The Age of Fable, the first section of the Mythology, is
available in this inexpensive, highly readable edition. Drawing on the
works of Homer, Ovid, Virgil, and other classical authors, as well as an
immense trove of stories about the Norse gods and heroes, The Age of
Fable offers lively retellings of the myths of the Greek and Roman
gods: Venus and Adonis, Jupiter and Juno, Daphne and Apollo, and many
others.
The myths and legends so vividly retold in this volume underlie much of
the art, literature, and culture of Western civilization. As Bulfinch
put it, "Without a knowledge of mythology, much of the elegant
literature of our own language cannot be understood and appreciated."
With this inexpensive edition of The Age of Fable, readers can immerse
themselves in these seminal myths, increasing their appreciation and
understanding of Western culture, while enjoying the myths purely as the
great stories they are.