A Book of Myths

Jean Lang (1867 - 1932)

This is a collection of myths--mostly Greek with a smattering of others from the east--written in a clear and easy-to-read style. Lang complemented each myth with poetry by other authors who, like her, were inspired by these ancient stories of the gods. Lang chose these stories because they portrayed heroic gods, faithfully and blindly worshipped by man. Ultimately, however, these gods demonstrated the same frailties as humans, and were found to be just as corrupt. Still, as Lang said, in spite of this these myths portrayed "a wonderful humanity that strikes a vibrant cord . . . ." This is significant to a deeper understanding of the collection as it was published in 1914 against the backdrop of the first world war, the war to end all wars--a war that doomed millions of common men to suffer "Promethean agonies," and die on battlefields in a most un-heroic way. As you listen to the narration, compare the gods of myth--with all their human frailties--to the 20th century, god-like European leaders who traded the wonderful innocence of humanity for the notion of "a noble cause." - Summary by James K. White

Genre(s): Myths, Legends & Fairy Tales

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 00 Preface and Post-Script James K. White
00:11:12
Play 01 Prometheus and Pandora James K. White
00:18:52
Play 02 Pygmalion James K. White
00:08:52
Play 03 Phaeton James K. White
00:18:42
Play 04 Endymion James K. White
00:09:15
Play 05 Orpheus James K. White
00:20:34
Play 06 Apollo and Daphne James K. White
00:07:08
Play 07 Psyche James K. White
00:41:54
Play 08 The Calydonian Hunt James K. White
00:16:20
Play 09 Atalanta James K. White
00:07:32
Play 10 Arachné James K. White
00:14:28
Play 11 Idas and Marpessa James K. White
00:18:46
Play 12 Arethusa James K. White
00:08:36
Play 13 Perseus the Hero James K. White
00:35:49
Play 14 Niobe James K. White
00:09:30
Play 15 Hyacinthus James K. White
00:08:24
Play 16 King Midas of the Golden Touch James K. White
00:17:47
Play 17 Ceyx and Halcyone James K. White
00:19:02
Play 18 Aristaeus the Bee-Keeper James K. White
00:12:44
Play 19 Proserpine James K. White
00:14:16
Play 20 Latona and the Rustics James K. White
00:08:45
Play 21 Echo and Narcissus James K. White
00:12:40
Play 22 Icarus James K. White
00:15:35
Play 23 Clytie James K. White
00:05:45
Play 24 The Cranes of Ibycus James K. White
00:08:04
Play 25 Syrinx James K. White
00:09:31
Play 26 The Death of Adonis James K. White
00:12:34
Play 27 Pan James K. White
00:19:54
Play 28 Lorelei James K. White
00:12:24
Play 29 Freya, Queen of the Northern Gods James K. White
00:13:47
Play 30 The Death of Baldur James K. White
00:18:31
Play 31 Beowulf James K. White
00:42:09
Play 32 Roland the Paladin James K. White
00:41:44
Play 33 The Children of Lir James K. White
00:31:31
Play 34 DeirdrĂȘ James K. White
00:52:00