Publisher's Synopsis
An essay founded on an address presented to the Congress of Americanists, at Copenhagen, in 1883. It is an extended review of the literary efforts of the red race, in their own tongues, and in English, Latin and Spanish (both manuscript and printed). An entirely novel field of inquiry is opened to view, of equal interest to ethnologists, linguists and historians. "In his 'American Hero-Myths' Dr. Brinton gives us the clue to the religious thought of the aboriginal Races. ... It is a learned and careful book, clearly written, popular in style though scientific in method, and must be a good deal fresher than a novel to most readers."-The American (Philadelphia). "This volume is the first attempt at what is entitled to be regarded as a critically accurate presentation of the fundamental conceptions found in the native beliefs of the tribes of America."-The New England Bibliopolist. "This is a thoughtful and original contribution to the science of comparative religion."-The Boston Journal. "We regard the 'Hero Myths' as a valuable contribution to the history of religion and to comparative mythology."-The Teacher (Philadelphia). ..".These few extracts give no idea of the mass of legends in this volume, and the queer, out-of-the-way information it supplies concerning the ideas and usages of races now extinct or hastening to extinction."-The Dublin Evening Mail. "Dr. Brinton, in his 'American Hero-Myths, ' has applied the comparative method soberly, and backed it by solid research in the original authors."-The Critic (New York).
