Custom and Myth

audiobook

Custom and Myth

by Andrew Lang

EN·~8 hours

Chapters

Description

In this incisive collection, the author turns a critical eye toward the dominant practice of comparative mythology, exposing the shaky foundations of the “name‑analysis” approach that has long guided scholars. By dissecting familiar tales—from the myth of Cronus to the story of Cupid and Psyche—he shows how differing linguistic guesses can lead to wildly divergent interpretations, turning mythic meaning into a game of speculation rather than solid insight.

Beyond critique, the work invites listeners to reconsider how myths arise, suggesting that the conventional focus on etymology overlooks the richer, lived contexts from which these stories emerged. Drawing on extensive studies of Greek, Indian, and “savage” mythologies, the author offers a fresh lens that emphasizes cultural nuance over fragile linguistic reconstruction, promising a thought‑provoking journey into the heart of ancient narrative.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~8 hours (464K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Release date

2004-11-17

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

Andrew Lang

Andrew Lang

1844–1912

Best known for the beloved Fairy Books, this Scottish writer brought folk tales, myths, and legends to generations of readers. He was also a remarkably wide-ranging man of letters whose work stretched across poetry, fiction, history, and anthropology.

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