The Age of Chivalry

by Thomas Bulfinch

Overview

Here are the world s most-loved stories, in a dynamic visual tour de force for today s readers. Each timeless myth is superbly presented in story form and enhanced with original art work by world-renowned artist Giovanni Caselli. Though Bulfinch s has been heralded for more than a century, it has never been published in so beautiful and accessible a format. Evocative four-color illustrations, many full-page, bring to life key events and characters of these universal tales and sagas from the Greek and Roman pantheon of gods to the heroes of the Crusades, from the exploits of Robin Hood to the feats of Richard the Lionheart. As enjoyable now as when Bulfinch first assembled them, these selections come from a variety of works Ovid s classic Metamorphoses, Egyptian myths, Eastern mythology, and Hindu, Norse, and Celtic sources. Together they form a remarkable tapestry of human endeavor: dreams, illusions, adventures, loves lost and loves found. In this handsome series, they speak to us afresh, across the ages, vivified through Caselli s inspired art. Original footnotes, indexes, and prefaces make this series not only entertaining, but completely authoritative as well. Thomas Bulfinch (1796-1867), writer and mythologist, was the first to create a popular compendium of ancient myths and legends. Giovanni Caselli (b. Florence, 1939) is one of Europe s most celebrated authors and illustrators. His books have sold in the millions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789359045528
Publisher:	True Sign Publishing House
Publication date:	07/17/2024
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	478 KB
Language:	Hindi

About the Author

Thomas Bulfinch (1796–1867) was an American author whose enduring contribution to literature lies in his ability to render the great myths and legends of antiquity and the Middle Ages accessible to a broad public. Born in Newton, Massachusetts, he grew up in a cultivated environment that valued learning, history, and the arts. His education at Harvard University provided him with a strong classical foundation, and he went on to spend much of his professional life working as a clerk for the Merchant’s Bank of Boston. Despite his practical career, Bulfinch nurtured a passion for literature and cultural history, dedicating himself to the task of translating the ancient and medieval heritage of myth into a form comprehensible and enjoyable to the lay reader.

Bulfinch’s approach was defined by clarity, elegance, and educational purpose. His most famous works—The Age of Fable, The Age of Chivalry, and Legends of Charlemagne—were later collected under the title Bulfinch’s Mythology. These volumes together became some of the most influential compendiums of myth and legend in the English-speaking world. His goal was not scholarly commentary for specialists but rather a resource that could allow readers of all backgrounds to understand references to mythological and legendary material in literature and art. For Bulfinch, mythology was not an arcane subject but a vital part of cultural literacy, enriching one’s engagement with poetry, drama, and history.

As an author, Bulfinch was remarkable for his ability to balance fidelity to source material with engaging narrative. He drew upon classical authors, medieval romances, and continental traditions, shaping them into flowing prose that retained their symbolic richness while avoiding the obscurity that might alienate a general audience. His work reflected the nineteenth-century belief in self-education and the democratization of knowledge, embodying the conviction that myth and legend belonged not only to scholars but to all who valued literature and culture.