This review originally appeared on Goodreads on April 12, 2012.

Bulfinch's Mythology

By Thomas Bulfinch – Lee & Shepard – 1867

Review by Robin Marx

While a very ambitious work, Bulfinch's Mythology didn't quite live up to my expectations. Assembling it was clearly a major undertaking, but the spotty coverage and uninspiring presentation hinder the overall quality of the work.

The book starts off fairly strongly, with an exhaustive chronicle of Greek mythology. Here Bulfinch's enthusiasm for the topic is clearly visible. Not only does he relate the stories, but he also points out allusions to the characters and themes to them in literature and poetry (Romantic verse in particular).

However, despite spending a great deal of attention on the Greeks, the Arthur myth, and stories related to Charlemagne, his perfunctory handling of the Norse and Hindu mythologies as well as the legends of Beowulf and Robin Hood leave a lot to be desired. The story of Robin Hood is boiled down to a single brief anecdote (the archery contest), and I would have preferred he omit these stories entirely than give them the uninspired coverage seen here.

His matter-of-fact retelling of the myths also harms their impact. Here he is, discussing stories of epic heroes, fierce monsters, and world-changing magic, but it's all relayed in a bland, sleep-inducing tone. If you're not already a mythology enthusiast, this book won't turn you into one.

However, Bulfinch deserves a great deal of credit for the scope of this work and the depth of his research. Well over a century has passed since the writing of this book, and no one has come close to creating such a monumental work in this field.

★★★☆☆

#CapsuleReviewArchive #BookReview #Nonfiction #Mythology #BulfinchsMythology #ThomasBulfinch