In an extremely serviceably manner Mr. Bray brings to the busy reader the pertinent facts about the gods and other legendary characters in the Mythosphere which envelops the globe. In addition to familiar figures of Greek, Roman, and Norse mythology, here also are to be found lesser known ones of India, the Far East, Celtic, Teutonic and Slavic lands, Africa, the Americas, the South Seas, etc. Brief introductions provide the setting for each regional chapter. Definitions are concise, in alphabetical sequence. A complete index of all entries makes the contents still more accessible. This is a comprehensive dictionary-and something more. It is a bird’s eye view of the whole world of myths, and most usable reference work on mythology in print. No great space is given to any divinity. The approach is not that of a specialist, but of a person who desires to be reasonably well-informed concerning a fascinating field of universal beliefs. “Who’s who in mankind’s mythology,†is Mr. Bray’s own terse comment as to his goal. It is the only single volume that covers the myths of all peoples.
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