
audiobook
by Charles Mills Gayley, Thomas Bulfinch
THE CLASSIC MYTHS IN ENGLISH LITERATURE AND IN ART BASED ORIGINALLY ON BULFINCH'S "AGE OF FABLE" (1855) ACCOMPANIED BY AN INTERPRETATIVE AND ILLUSTRATIVE COMMENTARY
TO THE MUSES
PREFACE
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS
INTRODUCTION THE STUDY OF MYTHOLOGY IN CONNECTION WITH ENGLISH POETRY AND WITH ART
PART I MYTHS OF DIVINITIES AND HEROES
PART II THE HISTORY OF MYTH.
COMMENTARY
A FEW RULES FOR THE ENGLISH PRONUNCIATION OF GREEK AND LATIN PROPER NAMES
This volume offers a clear, student‑friendly guide to the ancient myths that have shaped English poetry, drama, and prose for centuries. It reorganizes the classic stories so readers meet each tale at its beginning, then explores how poets and novelists have woven those motifs into their work. Rich illustrations and concise commentary illuminate the original sources, helping listeners recognize mythic references in familiar verses.
Beyond the literary focus, the book also surveys how the same legends appear in visual art, from Renaissance canvases to nineteenth‑century sculptures. Updated notes on Greek, Norse, and Oriental narratives are paired with fresh examples from English verse, while an outline of Wagner’s Ring cycle shows the myths’ reach into music. Ideal for anyone new to classical allusion, the text bridges the gap between ancient storytelling and the English literary tradition.
Full title
The Classic Myths in English Literature and in Art (2nd ed.) (1911) Based Originally on Bulfinch's "Age of Fable" (1855) Based Originally on Bulfinch's "Age of Fable" (1855)
Language
en
Duration
~21 hours (1243K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Richard Tonsing, Jonathan Ingram, The Internet Archive/American Libraries and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2014-06-21
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1858–1932
A pioneering Berkeley scholar, he helped shape the university’s English department while writing on myth, literature, and the teaching of poetry. His career joined deep classical learning with a lively interest in how stories endure across time.
View all books
1796–1867
Best known for bringing Greek myths, Arthurian legends, and medieval tales to everyday readers, this 19th-century writer turned classic stories into lively, approachable reading. His books helped generations discover mythology without needing a background in Latin or Greek.
View all books
by Thomas Bulfinch

by Thomas Bulfinch

by Thomas Bulfinch

by Charles Mills Gayley

by Thomas Bulfinch

by Thomas Bulfinch

by Thomas Bulfinch

by Thomas Bulfinch