Legends That Every Child Should Know; a Selection of the Great Legends of All Times for Young People

Legends That Every Child Should Know gathers a broad inheritance of heroic, sacred, and romantic storytelling for young readers, presenting the myths and legends that shaped classical, medieval, and modern imagination. Its prose is clear, elevated, and deliberately formative, preserving wonder while making ancient material accessible. Placed within the late nineteenth-century movement to cultivate children through the great books, the volume treats legend not as childish fantasy but as moral, poetic, and cultural memory. Hamilton Wright Mabie, an influential American essayist, editor, critic, and lecturer, was deeply committed to liberal education and the civilizing power of literature. As a longtime editor associated with The Outlook and a popular interpreter of literary tradition, he believed that children should encounter noble stories early. His editorial work reflects a conviction that myth and legend could awaken imagination, ethical feeling, and historical consciousness. This book is recommended for readers who want a thoughtful entrance into the legendary traditions of many ages. Parents, teachers, and young readers will find it especially valuable as a bridge between childhood curiosity and the larger world of literature, history, and shared cultural ideals.