Chambers's journal of popular literature, science, and art, fifth series, no. 144, vol. III, October 2, 1886

In this lively compilation, the author invites listeners to re‑examine familiar legends through the lens of modern science. By juxtaposing ancient tales of Troy, Arthur’s Round Table, and the Maid of Orleans with the latest observations of meteors and atmospheric oddities, the work asks what truly separates myth from fact. The tone remains conversational, treating grand narratives as subjects for curious investigation rather than solemn doctrine.

The essays weave vivid episodes—such as the 1821 meteorite that slammed into Ardèche’s soil, a celestial cross that appeared over Poitiers during a sermon, and statues that seem to “sweat” when temperature shifts dramatically—into a broader discussion of how people have historically interpreted the extraordinary. Each story is narrated with enough scholarly detail to satisfy the inquisitive mind, yet presented with a breezy, anecdotal charm that makes the material feel like a fireside chat. Listeners will come away with a fresh perspective on how wonder and evidence have long danced together.