Thomas Bulfinch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Bulfinch
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| Born | July 15, 1796 Newton, Massachusetts |
| Died | May 27, 1867 (aged 70) Boston, Massachusetts |
| Occupation | Banker, writer |
| Nationality | American |
| Subject | Mythology and Fable |
Thomas Bulfinch (born July 15, 1796 – died May 27, 1867) was an American writer. He was born in Newton, Massachusetts. He is best known for his book Bulfinch's Mythology. This book combines three of his earlier works about myths and legends. It was published after he passed away.
Contents
About Thomas Bulfinch's Life
Thomas Bulfinch came from a family that valued education. His father, Charles Bulfinch, was a famous architect. He designed the Massachusetts State House in Boston. He also worked on parts of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C..
Thomas Bulfinch went to several good schools. He attended Boston Latin School and Phillips Exeter Academy. Later, he studied at Harvard College, graduating in 1814. For most of his life, he worked as a banker. He was employed at the Merchants' Bank of Boston.
Bulfinch's Mythology: Stories for Everyone
Thomas Bulfinch published a new version of the biblical book of Psalms. This book helped explain the history of the Hebrews. However, he is most famous for Bulfinch's Mythology. This popular book was put together in 1881. It combined three of his earlier works:
- The Age of Fable, or Stories of Gods and Heroes (1855)
- The Age of Chivalry, or Legends of King Arthur (1858)
- Legends of Charlemagne, or Romance of the Middle Ages (1863)
Why Bulfinch's Mythology Is Important
Bulfinch's Mythology is a classic book. It made myths popular for many people. For over 100 years, it was the main book for learning about mythology. You can still find it in print today. The book was put together after Bulfinch died by Edward Everett Hale.
It includes many different kinds of stories. These come from famous mythological traditions. They are known as the Matter of Rome, the Matter of Britain, and the Matter of France.
Making Myths Easy to Understand
Thomas Bulfinch wrote in his book's introduction about his goal. He wanted to make mythology fun and easy to understand. He said his book was not for experts or scholars. Instead, it was for anyone who enjoys reading English literature. He wanted readers to understand the many references to myths. These references often appear in books, speeches, and everyday talks.
Bulfinch dedicated his first book to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. He described it as a way to make mythology popular. He also wanted to help people enjoy great literature more. His main goal was to tell myth stories in an entertaining way. He hoped this would make learning about myths enjoyable. He wanted it to feel like reading a storybook.
He also made sure to tell the stories correctly. This way, readers could recognize them when they saw them mentioned elsewhere. He wanted to teach mythology as a fun activity, not a difficult study. The book also had an index. This made it useful as a quick reference guide for myths.
Sources and Influence
Bulfinch used old writings for his classical myths. He got them from authors like Ovid and Virgil. For his Norse myths, he used a book by Paul Henri Mallet. This book was later translated by Bishop Thomas Percy.
Even today, Bulfinch's versions of these myths are taught. Many American public schools use them. Marie Sally Cleary wrote a book about Bulfinch's work. She said his book helped make classical culture available to more Americans. Later, Edith Hamilton's books on mythology became more popular in high schools. Her books were based directly on ancient Greek texts.
