Short History Of Myth

As long as we have been human, we have been mythmakers. In A Short History of Myth, Karen Armstrong holds up the mirror of mythology to show us the history of ourselves, and embarks on a journey that begins at a Neanderthal graveside and ends buried in the heart of the modern novel.

Surprising, powerful and profound, A Short History of Myth examines the world's most ancient art form - the making and telling of stories - and why we still need it.

The Myths series brings together some of the world's finest writers, each of whom has retold a myth in a contemporary and memorable way. Authors in the series include Karen Armstrong, Margaret Atwood, A.S. Byatt, David Grossman, Natsuo Kirino, Alexander McCall Smith, Philip Pullman, Ali Smith and Jeanette Winterson.

Review: Elegantly argued and consistently thought-provoking * * Telegraph * *
Witty, informative and contemplative * * New York Times * *
Remarkable * * The Times * *
What Armstrong does in her skid over the millennia is make comparisons, connections and contrasts in a way that cannot fail to enlighten the general reader . . . Myths are narratives: as she eloquently says, we shouldn't be done with them yet -- NICHOLAS LEZARD * * Guardian * *
Valiant and readable . . . clearly and concisely written * * Independent * *
With characteristic incisiveness, Armstrong explores the development of myth from prehistory to the present day * * Daily Mail * *
Brilliant . . . Succinct and thoughtfully elucidated * * Elle * *
Karen Armstrong is a genius -- AN WILSON
Karen Armstrong is one of our most perceptive and thoughtful writers on religion -- JOHN GRAY
One of the handful of wise and supremely intelligent commentators on religion -- ALAIN DE BOTTON