A Short History of Myth

Karen Armstrong’s concise yet compelling investigation into the history of myth takes us from the Palaeolithic period and the mythology of the hunters right up to the ‘Great Western Transformation’ of the last 500 years. She shows us that the history of myth is the history of humanity, and our stories and beliefs, our curiosity and attempts to understand the world, link us to our ancestors and each other. Myths help us make sense of the universe, and of ourselves. Armstrong’s characteristically insightful and eloquent book serves as a brilliant and thought-provoking introduction to myth in the broadest sense – and why we dismiss it only at our peril.

Contents

i What is a Myth?

ii The Palaeolithic Period: The Mythology of the Hunters (c. 20000 to 8000 BCE)

iii The Neolithic Period: The Mythology of the Farmers (c. 8000 to 4000 BCE)

iv The Early Civilisations (c. 4000 to 800 BCE)

v The Axial Age (c. 800 to 200 BCE)

vi The Post-Axial Period (c. 200 BCE to c. 1500 CE)

vii The Great Western Transformation (c. 1500 to 2000)

Review

Elegantly argued and consistently thought-provoking ― Telegraph

“The most ambitious simultaneous worldwide publication ever undertaken.” The Times”

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 –This text refers to the paperback edition.

About the Author

Karen Armstrong is one of the world’s leading commentators on religious affairs, and has been described by the Financial Times as ‘one of our best living writers on religion’. She spent seven years as a Roman Catholic nun in the 1960s, before leaving for a career as a writer and broadcaster. Armstrong is the best-selling author of over 20 books and a passionate campaigner for religious liberty, and has addressed members of the United States Congress and the Senate and has participated in the World Economic Forum.