Thomas Keightley facts for kids

Thomas Keightley (born October 17, 1789 – died November 4, 1872) was an Irish writer. He is best known for his books about myths and folklore. His most famous work is Fairy Mythology (1828). This book was later re-released with the title The World Guide to Gnomes, Fairies, Elves, and Other Little People.

Keightley was a very important person in the early study of folklore. He liked to compare stories and traditions from different cultures. He was careful in his studies. He knew that similar stories didn't always mean they were copied. Sometimes, similar tales could appear on their own in different places. He also wrote history textbooks for schools, asked by educator Thomas Arnold.

Thomas Keightley: A Life of Stories

Thomas Keightley was born in October 1789. His father was also named Thomas Keightley. He went to Trinity College, Dublin, in 1803. But he left without finishing his degree. He wanted to become a lawyer, but his health wasn't good enough.

In 1824, he moved to London. There, he started working as a writer and journalist. He helped his friend Thomas Crofton Croker with his book, Fairy Legends of South Ireland (1825). Keightley even added a story called "The Soul Cages." He later admitted that he mostly made up this story himself!

His Travels and Language Skills

Keightley spent time in Italy. This helped him translate stories from famous Italian collections. He could read and understand many languages. He claimed to know over twenty languages and dialects! He used these skills to translate old stories. He brought many medieval and foreign tales to English readers. These included stories about Ogier the Dane and Swedish ballads about water spirits and elves.

Exploring Fairies and Myths

Keightley was one of the first people to compare folklore stories. His book The Fairy Mythology set high standards for its time.

The Fairy Mythology Book

In 1828, Keightley published his two-volume book, Fairy Mythology. It had pictures by William Henry Brooke. A German version quickly came out that same year. Even Jacob Grimm, one of the famous Brothers Grimm, praised his work. The book was very popular among people who studied folklore. An updated version came out in 1850. It has been printed many times since then. Keightley himself hoped his work would be remembered forever.

Keightley was one of the first in England to study myths like the Brothers Grimm. He looked for links between a nation's myths and other cultures' religions. He first tried to connect fairy myths to old Gothic and German roots. But he later realized that it's hard to find one single source for a myth. He thought that similar myths could appear because people are similar. They have similar experiences and feelings all over the world.

A Small Disagreement Over Credit

Keightley helped T. Crofton Croker with his Fairy Legend book. This work inspired Keightley to write his own book. But Keightley felt Croker didn't give him enough credit. Later, in 1850, Keightley wrote more kindly about it. He called Croker "one of my earliest literary friends."

One story in Fairy Mythology was "The Soul Cages." It was about an Irish male merrow (a type of mermaid). Keightley later added a note to this story. He confessed that he had mostly made it up! He took a small idea from a German story. But the rest of the Irish tale was his own invention.

How the Book Was Published

The Fairy Mythology was printed many times in the 1800s. The 1878 edition was reprinted a century later. It was given a new title: The World Guide to Gnomes, Fairies, Elves and Other Little People.

Ancient Greek Mythology

Keightley also wrote The Mythology of Ancient Greece and Italy for the Use of School (1831). This book was praised for being suitable for young people. It was noted that Keightley looked at Greek myths in a scientific way. He focused on their history, not just their religious meaning.

Tales and Popular Fictions

In 1834, Keightley published Tales and Popular Fictions. This book explored how stories are similar across countries. He divided it into three parts. Some tales, he thought, traveled from the Middle East to Europe. Other tales were very similar but he believed they were created separately. Some stories, he admitted, he couldn't figure out.

Writing History Books

Keightley spent a lot of time writing history books. These were meant for schools and for general readers. His Outlines of History was an early part of Lardner's Cabinet Cyclopædia (1829). His History of the War of Greek Independence (1830) was also a popular work.

After Outlines, Thomas Arnold of Rugby School asked Keightley to write more history books for schools. He wrote a History of England (1837–39). He also wrote histories of Greece (1835), Rome (1836), and the Roman Empire (1840). His History of Greece was even translated into modern Greek. He also made quiz books for students to use with his history texts.

Keightley wanted to create better history books for schools than those by Oliver Goldsmith. He felt his books were good enough. He was proud that his books were used in famous schools. These included Eton College, Harrow School, Rugby, and Winchester College. In 1850, Keightley said his history books were "unrivalled."

Literary Works and Studies

Keightley also edited classic Latin books. He worked on Virgil's Bucolics and Georgics (1847). He also edited works by Horace, Ovid, and Sallust.

Studying John Milton

Keightley created a special version of John Milton's works (1859). He also wrote a book about Milton's life and writings (1855). Keightley's ideas about Milton have been discussed by scholars for many years.

Milton's poems often refer to old Greek and Roman myths. Keightley carefully tracked down where Milton got his mythological ideas. Sometimes, Keightley pointed out what he thought were Milton's mistakes. For example, Milton wrote about "Titan, Heaven's first-born." Keightley said there wasn't just one god named Titan. But others have shown that Milton might have used different old sources.

Friends and Family

Keightley was a friend of Gabriele Rossetti. He supported Rossetti's ideas about the famous poet Dante. Keightley was one of the few non-Italians who spent time with the Rossetti family. Dante Gabriel Rossetti, who became a famous artist, loved Keightley's Fairy Mythology when he was a child.

Keightley had a nephew and adopted son named Alfred Chaworth Lyster. He became a close friend of the Rossetti family. Records from the Rossetti family give us some information about Keightley's later life. They mention two "Misses Keightley" at his home in 1866. They also mention a relative named William Samuel Keightley. By this time, Thomas Keightley had become very hard of hearing. He died in Erith, Kent, on November 4, 1872.