Myths for the Millions: Thomas Bulfinch, His America, and His Mythology Book

This book presents the life and work of the American author Thomas Bulfinch (1796-1867). He is famous for his book The Age of Fable; or, Stories of Gods and Heroes (Boston, 1855), also known as Bulfinch’s Mythology. With it, he democratized for Americans the Greek and Roman myths which they needed to know in order to understand the literature which more and more of them, including women, were reading. The book was a landmark on the road to equality in education and is an all-time best seller. Bulfinch sympathized with the people - those without Latin - who did not know the myths because he spent most of his time with such men and women. Although he was well born and highly educated, he lived and worked modestly in order to help his struggling birth family. By examining letters of Thomas Bulfinch and his family and exploring life in the early American republic, including the role of the ancient classics, this book sheds light on the period and on Bulfinch’s life and achievement.