With an Introduction by J. Berg Esenwein Litt. D.

This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.

The classic text reset with new illustrations, index, and glossary retells the principal myths of Greece and Rome.

From the preface: "The religious beliefs of the North are not mirrored with any exactitude in the Elder Edda. Indeed only a travesty of the faith of our ancestors has been preserved in Norse literature. The early poet loved allegory, and his imagination rioted among the conceptions of his fertile muse. “His eye was fixed on the mountains till the snowy peaks assumed human features and the giant of the rock or the ice descended with heavy tread; or he would gaze at the splendour of the spring, or of the summer fields, till Freya with the gleaming necklace stepped forth, or Sif with the flowing locks of gold.”4 We are told nothing as to sacrificial and religious rites, and all else is omitted which does not provide material for artistic treatment. The so-called Northern Mythology, therefore, may be regarded as a precious relic of the beginning of Northern poetry, rather than as a representation of the religious beliefs of the Scandinavians, and these literary fragments bear many signs of the transitional stage wherein the confusion of the old and new faiths is easily apparent. But notwithstanding the limitations imposed by long neglect it is possible to reconstruct in part a plan of the ancient Norse beliefs, and the general reader will derive much profit from Carlyle’s illuminating study in “Heroes and Hero-worship.” “A bewildering, inextricable jungle of delusions, confusions, falsehoods and absurdities, covering the whole field of Life!” he calls them, with all good reason. But he goes on to show, with equal truth, that at the soul of this crude worship of distorted nature was a spiritual force seeking expression. What we probe without reverence they viewed with awe, and not understanding it, straightway deified it, as all children have been apt to do in all stages of the world’s history. Truly they were hero-worshippers after Carlyle’s own heart, and scepticism had no place in their simple philosophy. It was the infancy of thought gazing upon a universe filled with divinity, and believing heartily with all sincerity. A large-hearted people reaching out in the dark towards ideals which were better than they knew. Ragnarok was to undo their gods because they had stumbled from their higher standards. We have to thank a curious phenomenon for the preservation of so much of the old lore as we still possess. While foreign influences were corrupting the Norse language, it remained practically unaltered in Iceland, which had been colonised from the mainland by the Norsemen who had fled thither to escape the oppression of Harold Fairhair after his crushing victory of Hafrsfirth. These people brought with them the poetic genius which had already manifested itself, and it took fresh root in that barren soil. Many of the old Norse poets were natives of Iceland, and in the early part of the Christian era, a supreme service was rendered to Norse literature by the Christian priest, Sæmund, who industriously brought together a large amount of pagan poetry in a collection known as the Elder Edda, which is the chief foundation of our present knowledge of the religion of our Norse ancestors. Icelandic literature remained a sealed book, however, until the end of the eighteenth century, and very slowly since that time it has been winning its way in the teeth of indifference, until there are now signs that it will eventually come into its own. “To know the old Faith,” says Carlyle, “brings us into closer and clearer relation with the Past—with our own possessions in the Past. For the whole Past is the possession of the Present; the Past had always something true, and is a precious possession.” The weighty words of William Morris regarding the Volsunga Saga may also be fitly quoted as an introduction to the whole of this collection of “Myths of the Norsemen”...

Product Description: Although Greece (or Hel´las) is only half as large as the State of New York, it holds a very important place in the history of the world. It is situated in the southern part of Europe, cut off from the rest of the continent by a chain of high mountains which form a great wall on the north...read more

Product Description: This little collection of Legends and Fairy Tales is intended merely as an introduction to general French reading. The stories have been told as simply as possible, with infinite repetition of the same words and idioms to enable the pupil to obtain a good vocabulary almost unconsciously...read more

Product Description: These short sketches, which can be read in a few moments' time, are intended to give the reader as clear as possible an outline of the great dramatist-composer's work. The author is deeply indebted to Professor G.T. Dippold, to Messrs...read more

Product Description: The prime importance of the rude fragments of poetry preserved in early Icelandic literature will now be disputed by none, but there has been until recent times an extraordinary indifference to the wealth of religious tradition and mythical lore which they contain.

Product Description: The World's Great Epics Told in Story

Product Description: "The Story of the Chosen People" was a school book written in 1896 to be read to 3rd and 4th graders. The stories are concise, (about three pages long) explaining the stories of the old testament, in chronological order. Very easy to read for devotions and easily understandable to children, while giving them all the important elements of the stories...read more

Product Description: De voorname beteekenis van de ruwe brokken poëzie, in vroege IJslandsche litteratuur bewaard, zal nu door niemand meer betwist worden, maar er bestond tot voor korten tijd een buitengewone onverschilligheid ten opzichte van de godsdienstige overlevering en mythische leer die zij behelzen...read more

Product Description: This little collection of Legends and Fairy Tales is intended merely as an introduction to general French reading. The stories have been told as simply as possible, with infinite repetition of the same words and idioms to enable the pupil to obtain a good vocabulary almost unconsciously...read more

Product Description: A collection of some of the most fundamental myths and legends of post-Roman Europe, this book gathers tales of pagan and Christian heroes and villains alike and sheds light on the cultures and beliefs of the Middle Ages. Among the stories included are those of Beowulf, the Danish hero who battled against monsters and dragons; Tristan and Isolde, the tragic lovers whose tale was translated into numerous languages; El Cid, Spain’s national hero; and the legend of the Holy Grail, which illustrates man’s eternal quest for paradise...read more

Product Description: An analysis of the mythologies of ancient Greece and Rome, this guide provides both a practical manual for the student and many hours of pleasure for the lay reader. Detailing the stories of divine battles, heroic struggles against adversity, epic travels, and tragic love, this book also offers useful information on the link between the Greek and Roman gods, as well as the ancient world where their adventures took place...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

Product Description: An analysis of the mythologies of ancient Greece and Rome, this guide provides both a practical manual for the student and many hours of pleasure for the lay reader. Detailing the stories of divine battles, heroic struggles against adversity, epic travels, and tragic love, this book also offers useful information on the link between the Greek and Roman gods, as well as the ancient world where their adventures took place...read more

Product Description: De voorname beteekenis van de ruwe brokken poëzie, in vroege IJslandsche litteratuur bewaard, zal nu door niemand meer betwist worden, maar er bestond tot voor korten tijd een buitengewone onverschilligheid ten opzichte van de godsdienstige overlevering en mythische leer die zij behelzen...read more

Product Description: A Must and a Classic: This book gives you something other books on Norse mythology do not. This volume contains the most dramatic and compelling retelling of Ragnarok you will ever find. In this book, the myths are partly stories and partly explanations of what stories and their characters mean...read more

Product Description: This little collection of Legends and Fairy Tales is intended merely as an introduction to general French reading. The stories have been told as simply as possible, with infinite repetition of the same words and idioms to enable the pupil to obtain a good vocabulary almost unconsciously...read more

Product Description: This early works is an absorbing look at The Stories of Opera, It is hoped that these sketches will either enable the reader to recall beautiful scenes once beheld upon the stage, and to hear again in memory the beautiful melodies with which they are connected, or give non-opera-goers a faint idea of performances which have given pleasure to thousands...read more

Product Description: The aim of this book is to present a complete and entertaining account of Grecian and Roman mythology in such a manner that the student will appreciate its great upon literature and art. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive...read more

Product Description: This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work...read more

Product Description: This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work...read more