The Age of Fable

Bulfinch's Mythology: The Age of Fable by Thomas Bulfinch (1855)

Zeus and Hera, Odysseus and Circe, Perseus and Medusa, Theseus and the Minotaur — the definitive retelling of Greek, Roman, and Norse mythology for English-speaking readers. How most of the Western world learns its myths.

Historical Significance:
Thomas Bulfinch, a Boston clerk who never married and lived modestly, wrote The Age of Fable in 1855 to make classical mythology accessible to ordinary Americans who hadn't had a classical education. He succeeded beyond all measure — "Bulfinch's Mythology" became the standard reference for generations of English-speaking readers, writers, and artists. Virtually every American and British writer who references Greek mythology learned it from Bulfinch. The book democratized knowledge that had been the exclusive property of the educated elite. It remains the most widely read mythology text in English and is still assigned in schools.

This public domain classic was originally published in 1855. Free to read and share.