Legends of Long Ago

Legends are stories from the past—with no known authors and no exact dates. They are the accumulated wisdom and imagination of the simple folk of every land—a mixture of fact and fiction.

The story of people, their hopes and their fears, is mirrored in their tales. They created heroes whose qualities they, themselves, most wanted in life. People suffering from social injustices created Robin Hood, who stole from the rich and gave to the poor. People with consummate faith in God and their King told about Arthur and his Round Table. And pioneers, carving out a wilderness and building a nation, created giant heroes with Bunyanesque strength.

Myths, too, are a reflection of the people's ideas. In their myths, the people tried to explain the unknown. They created gods to replace their doubts and fears. They incorporated in myths their ideas of right and wrong, of good and evil. The morals of the myths were the morals of the people.

The legends and myths that we read today have been written and rewritten in thousands of versions and in many languages. They are more than just studies of people—they are literature as well. "Ali Baba" and "Aladdin" not only tell about a people of long ago but also provide exciting entertainment. The myths are not merely moral studies, they are thrilling stories of contests in strength and wit. American tall tales are filled with fun and robust humor, and the hero tales and epics abound with adventure.

LEGENDS OF LONG AGO transports you by chariot, horseback, and magic to other places and other times. On lofty Olympus, at Sherwood Forest, and in the many other lands of the legends, you will experience the enchantment and excitement, the adventure and intrigue that has fascinated the world for centuries.

JANE DARRAH
Superintendent, Work with Children,
Seattle Public Library

From the book