Rating: 
Summary: Well written but a bit loosely.
Review: A classic reference used by millions of laypeople the world around. The stories are retold in an engaging fashion, capturing the imagination of the reader. However, for the serious scholar the lack of citations and the rather loose interpretation at times, will be a problem. Don't let this be the only reference on mythology if you are teaching a class.
Rating:
Summary: Well written but a bit loosely.
Review: A classic reference used by millions of laypeople the world around. The stories are retold in an engaging fashion, capturing the imagination of the reader. However, for the serious scholar the lack of citations and the rather loose interpretation at times, will be a problem. Don't let this be the only reference on mythology if you are teaching a class.
Rating: 
Summary: one of the best
Review: a prose interpertation and telling of the myths, this is only rivalled by Hamilton's text. A much revered and needed text for any student of literature.
Rating:
Summary: one of the best
Review: a prose interpertation and telling of the myths, this is only rivalled by Hamilton's text. A much revered and needed text for any student of literature.
Rating: 
Summary: A Wonderful Reference
Review: Bulfinch does a great job of retelling the classic Greek/Roman myths of antiquity as well as the myths of Old Europe including, among others, Arthur, Charlemange, Orlando, and Thor. One part that stands out is the Mabinogeon which (and this is noted on page 561 of the Modern Library edition) has a Thousand and One Nights fell to it. One part that appeared to not fit into the book at all was Chapter 37 of The Age of Fable, which hastily describes a portion of Eastern Mythology. Although this section has no true faults with the information, one gets the sense that Bulfinch quickly threw the myths together and since he didn't have room for them anywhere else he put them in this chapter. Although it does not take away from the quality of the book it might have been better had Bulfinch chosen either to elaborate slightly on the myths or to not include them altogether. However, for an introduction to classical mythology for the reader who is having trouble understanding Byron or Milton or Shakespeare or a hundred other classical European and American writers this book is a godsend. Bulfinch tailored this book to just this kind of reader. At times it may seem a bit dry, but Bulfinch intended his work to be used as a reference mainly (which is why he included a great index in the back of The Age of Fable). For those readers who are interested in mythology as an end unto itself, I recommend this work as your main road map through this sometimes confusing trail. Robert Graves and Edith Hamilton's works are good also but in my opinion Bulfinch outdoes both of them. From here you will definitely want to look at the Madrus and Mathers 4 vol. edition of the Thousand Nights and One Night (that is the full title) if you liked the Eastern feel that you get in Chapter 37 in the Age of Fable and the Mabinogeon. If you are interested in the Greek and Roman myths mainly go straight to the horses mouth and read Ovid, Homer, and Virgil. For more European mythology, Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur is indespensable. I recommend Penguin's two volume edition but with some hesitation, as the annotation is a bit strange, making you flip back and forth between the front of the book and the back of the book. However, Penguin prints out almost every major mythological story, ranging from the Medieval French Romances to the Icelandic Sagas. As stated before, let Bulfinch lead you through this mass of myths, he knows what he's doing.
Rating:
Summary: Great Intro to Mythology
Review: Bulfinch does a great job of retelling the classic Greek/Roman myths of antiquity as well as the myths of Old Europe including, among others, Arthur, Charlemange, Orlando, and Thor. One part that stands out is the Mabinogeon which (and this is noted on page 561 of the Modern Library edition) has a Thousand and One Nights fell to it. One part that appeared to not fit into the book at all was Chapter 37 of The Age of Fable, which hastily describes a portion of Eastern Mythology. Although this section has no true faults with the information, one gets the sense that Bulfinch quickly threw the myths together and since he didn't have room for them anywhere else he put them in this chapter. Although it does not take away from the quality of the book it might have been better had Bulfinch chosen either to elaborate slightly on the myths or to not include them altogether. However, for an introduction to classical mythology for the reader who is having trouble understanding Byron or Milton or Shakespeare or a hundred other classical European and American writers this book is a godsend. Bulfinch tailored this book to just this kind of reader. At times it may seem a bit dry, but Bulfinch intended his work to be used as a reference mainly (which is why he included a great index in the back of The Age of Fable). For those readers who are interested in mythology as an end unto itself, I recommend this work as your main road map through this sometimes confusing trail. Robert Graves and Edith Hamilton's works are good also but in my opinion Bulfinch outdoes both of them. From here you will definitely want to look at the Madrus and Mathers 4 vol. edition of the Thousand Nights and One Night (that is the full title) if you liked the Eastern feel that you get in Chapter 37 in the Age of Fable and the Mabinogeon. If you are interested in the Greek and Roman myths mainly go straight to the horses mouth and read Ovid, Homer, and Virgil. For more European mythology, Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur is indespensable. I recommend Penguin's two volume edition but with some hesitation, as the annotation is a bit strange, making you flip back and forth between the front of the book and the back of the book. However, Penguin prints out almost every major mythological story, ranging from the Medieval French Romances to the Icelandic Sagas. As stated before, let Bulfinch lead you through this mass of myths, he knows what he's doing.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Have
Review: BULFINCH'S MYTHOLOGY is THE classic introduction to ancient and medieval myths. In three volume's, Thomas Bulfinch recounted and referenced classical stories of Graeco-Roman gods and heroes, Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, Norse and Hindu mythology, the Arthurian legends, Robin Hood, the Mabinogeon, and the tales of Chalemagne and his paladins. All three volumes are combined here in a single book. Besides making great reading on their own, these tales, and the values and ideals that they illustrate, are at the very heart of western literature and culture. Shakespeare, Milton, and most of the other icons of English literature drew on them repeatedly. The modern fantasy genre has its origins in this material. Tolkien was inspired by it. They are "must" reading for anyone who aspires to be considered "educated". There are just a couple of negatives here. The particular edition I have has a lot of typographical errors in it. There were such things as a sentence beginning "She..." when clearly it should have begun "The...", for example. Further, one can find fuller retellings of specific stories in other places. These are minor points, however. Bulfinch is still the classic introduction and source for mythological tales. Plus, as I said, it's great fun. Most people can profit from Bulfinch. Fantasy fans should especially love it.
Rating:
Summary: A CLASSIC!
Review: Even after several readings, this old classic never loses it's lustre.
Why not invest a taudry amount and append a great anthology to your library?
From the Greek and Roman gods to King Author to Charlemagne, this has got it all!
If you own only one book on the subject of mythology, this should be the one.
Rating:
Summary: Again - A Classic
Review: Even after several readings, this old classic never loses its lustre. Why not invest a taudry amount and append a great anthology to your library? From the Greek and Roman gods to King Author to Charlemagne, this has got it all! If you own only one book on the subject of mythology, this should be the one.
Rating:
Summary: A great book for anyone into Mythology
Review: Here's a book to add to your Cultural Mythology book collection.
A wonderful resource full of entertaining stories about the Gods, Demigods and Demons of mythology! The tales are eminently readable. As Bulfinch wrote, "Without a knowledge of mythology much of the elegant literature of our own language cannot be understood and appreciated. . . . Our book is an attempt to solve this problem, by telling the stories of mythology in such a manner as to make them a source of amusement." Stories included are: Prometheus and Pandora, Apollo and Daphne, Juno and Her Rivals, Phaeton, Midas, Proserpine, Pygamalion, Ceyx and Halcyone, Vertumnus and Pomona, Cupid and Psyche, Cadmus, Nisus and Scylla, Minerva, The Graeae and Gorgons, Monsters, Jason and the Golden Fleece, Meleager and Atalanta, Hercules, Theseus, Bacchus and Ariadne, Rural Deities, Achelous and Hercules, Orpheus and Eurydice, Arion, Endymion and much, much more!
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