Hero Tales

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About this book

Greek gods, northern legends and the knights of Charlemagne share the pages of James Baldwin's collection for young readers. Its seventeen tales are drawn from three earlier books and arranged as mostly independent episodes suitable for school reading. The opening follows Apollo from his birth on Delos through his search for a place to dwell and build a temple. Swans, mountain guardians and a jealous lake nymph give the story its sense of a world where divine beings shape human affairs.

Other selections turn to the legends surrounding Siegfried and the deeds of Charlemagne's companions. A treasure hoard and a serpent ring make greed visible through startling changes of shape, before the narrative introduces a young Siegfried learning a smith's trade. Baldwin explains that he recasts the old stories in his own words for children. The collection offers an approachable way to learn the legends behind many literary references.

About the author

James Baldwin

James Arthur Baldwin was an American writer and civil rights activist who garnered acclaim for his essays, novels, plays, and poems. His 1953 novel Go Tell It on the Mountain has been ranked by Time magazine as one of the top 100 English-language novels.