When was Thomas Bulfinch born and where did he grow up?
Thomas Bulfinch entered the world on the 15th of July 1796 in Newton, Massachusetts. He grew up within a merchant family that valued education despite having modest means.
Questions about Thomas Bulfinch
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What books did Thomas Bulfinch publish between 1855 and 1863?
Bulfinch published three separate books over an eight-year span between 1855 and 1863. The first volume appeared in 1855 under the title The Age of Fable, or Stories of Gods and Heroes, followed by The Age of Chivalry, or Legends of King Arthur in 1858, and finally Legends of Charlemagne, or Romance of the Middle Ages in 1863.
Who compiled Thomas Bulfinch's works into one unified book after his death?
Edward Everett Hale assembled the three separate volumes into one unified work after Bulfinch died. This compilation was published in 1881, fourteen years after the writer passed away on the 27th of May 1867.
Which ancient authors did Thomas Bulfinch use as sources for his myths?
Thomas Bulfinch based his classical myths on specific texts by Ovid and Virgil. He drew Norse myths from a work by Paul Henri Mallet who lived between 1730 and 1807.
Why were Thomas Bulfinch's mythology books popular with American readers?
Marie Sally Cleary described the book as democratizing classical culture for American antebellum readers. The volumes were designed for the reader of English literature rather than scholars or theologians to serve as relaxation from study while imparting knowledge.