For over a hundred years Thomas Bulfinch's masterpiece on ancient myth and legend has been consulted by scholars and lay readers alike. The timeless stories of the gods and goddesses of Greece, Rome and Northern mythology are brought to life, and throughout the book Bulfinch shows, by extensive and resonant quotation, how these images have enormously enriched the development of English literature, from Byron to Shakespeare, from Keats and Milton to Wordsworth and Tennyson.In addition, there is a chapter on Eastern religion and myth, together with maps of the ancient world, a list of proverbial expressions, a 24-page glossary and index, and an index to the poetical quotations.

One of the most famous books on mythology in the English language -- a uniquely readable introduction to the world of myth and legend. Although first published more than a century ago, it remains a classic, popular portrayal of the stories surrounding the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece and Rome; it also includes legends of the Norsemen, Hindus, Buddhists, and Druids. Bulfinch's writing was intended for the general reader who would wish t.o understand classical allusions in poetry, painting, prose and sculpture. Includes maps and a genealogic table of the gods of Greece and Rome; a glossary; and 36 illustrations.