Books in Myths and Legends series

This collection of Chinese stories begins with the great legends of how Earth and Heaven came into being, and of how the archer Yi rid the Emperor Yao of the menace of the ten suns. Engrossing folk tales about ghosts and rainmakers, poor students and magicians, and the man who was nearly made into fishpaste flesh out Chinese culture, character, and customs. Throughout all these stories, the author has kept the subtle oriental flavour of the originals, bringing to life all the magic and mystery of China.

Out of dark and violent centuries, legends of a great leader arose. King Arthur became one of the most famous figures in British literature. During the Dark Ages, Britain was without a king and the land was divided. Death and destruction reigned over the land as power-hungry overlords armed themselves and fought against their fellow countrymen. In MYTHOLOGY OF KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS, Evelyn Wolfson examines both legend and historical fact surrounding King Arthur and the Dark Ages in the British Isles. This book is developed from KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS IN MYTHOLOGY to allow republication of the original text into ebook, paperback, and trade editions.

Beowulf is a brave and mighty warrior, known to have the strength of thirty men. At home in Geatland, Beowulf hears about the terrible troubles of his father's friend, Hrothgar, the king of the Danes. Hrothgar's land is plagued by Grendel, a vicious monster who attacks the Danes by night. Beowulf sets sail to aid Hrothgar and the Danes. But is Beowulf strong enough to slay the monstrous Grendel? And even if he succeeds, what other dangers lie ahead for the warrior-hero?

Atalanta is the best hunter, swiftest runner, and the all-around most eligible bachelorette in ancient Greece. She’s also a woman with a secret: a fortune-teller has given her a stern warning to never marry. When her father―a powerful king―insists that she choose a husband, she hatches a clever plan to hold onto her freedom. Will Atalanta be able to outrun her father’s demands? Will the gods intervene in her story? And will fate catch up with her in the end?

Homer's Iliad, read by college underclassmen everywhere, tells the story of Helen, 'the face that launched a thousand ships', the Trojan horse, and Achilles' heel. The Iliad provides the basis for this modern exploration of one of the most famous legendary wars of all time, a story at least partly based in fact.When Paris, prince of Troy, ran off with Helen, wife of the king of Sparta, it launched the greatest war of the mythic age of Greece. Heroes and gods assembled on both sides, as the combined armies of Greece launched a siege that would last for ten years. During that time, famous heroes, such as Achilles, Ajax, and Hector, would find glory on the battlefield, before being cut down by their enemies. Others, such as Agamemnon, Odysseus, and Aeneas, would survive the war, only to face even greater challenges in the aftermath. Thanks to the Iliad of Homer, and numerous other ancient sources, the story of the siege of Troy has survived for over 3,000 years. In this new book in the Myths and Legends series, Professor Si Sheppard draws together all of these ancient texts to tell the complete story of the Trojan war, from the flight of the 'face that launched a thousand ships' to the great wooden horse that brought the city to bloody ruin. Accompanied by both classical and modern artwork, this book is the perfect primer for those interested in the greatest war of the ancient world, and the last great conflict between the gods of Ancient Greece.

In this dramatic, new collection, Diksha Dalal-Clayton retells the stories which enchanted her as a youngster--stories told to her by her grandmother, stories passed down through the generations. For centuries, the adventures of the young Krishna, the god who was always getting into trouble because of his boyish pranks, have delighted Indian boys and girls. Because he embodies both the human and the divine, the child-like and the god-like, Krishna is a favorite with both the young and the young at heart. Stories of the young Krishna's adventures with gods and kings, his battles with demons, his flirtations with the girls of his village, are all retold with charm, grace and wit. Richly detailed illustrations enhance the text and rouse the imagination. These classic tales from Hindu mythology will open your child's eyes to the richness and splendor of ancient Indian civilization.

Ita Daly, the popular Irish novelist, collects myths and legends from his native land in this beautifully illustrated collection. Many of these stories were told to him as a child by his mother, who learned them from her mother. The oldest myths retold here belong to the Mythological Cycle; they were copied by monks in the 11th and 12th centuries from earlier manuscripts. This cycle features the Tuatha De Danann, a handsome race descended from a goddess and endowed with many godlike qualities. The second group of stories, the Ulster Cycle, deal with the ancient Ulster king Conchubhar Mac Nessa and his bravest warrior, Cuchulainn. The Fianna Cycle dates back to about 300 AD and recount the heroics of the warrior Fionn Mac Cumhaill and his band of fighting men, the Fianna. This collection includes other stories as well, all enchantingly retold in clear prose that convincingly recaptures the beauty of language and times past.

Out of the great halls of Asgard, home of the Norse Gods...came one of the greatest Norse legends. Thor, powerful god of thunder, and his brother Loki, the trickster, were eager to resolve an argument: Does strength always win, or do brains always beat brawn? To find an answer, they travel to the strange and forbidding land of giants. There they will face a series of challenges that will prove once and for all which god is right. Or will it?