Donald A. (Donald Alexander) Mackenzie

Born in Cromarty, Scotland, in 1873, Donald Alexander Mackenzie was a journalist, folklorist, and prolific popular writer. Early in his career he worked in journalism in Glasgow, and he later moved to Dingwall, where he became owner and editor of The North Star.

He is best known for writing accessible books on mythology, religion, anthropology, and early history. His work explored traditions from many cultures, and his long afterlife in reprints and public-domain editions shows how widely read he remained after his death in 1936.

Readers who enjoy sweeping surveys of ancient belief, legend, and custom will likely find his work especially appealing. He wrote with the aim of bringing large, sometimes daunting subjects to a broad audience, which helps explain why titles such as Myths of Babylonia and Assyria, Indian Myth and Legend, and Myths of China and Japan continue to circulate.