India

by Donald A. Mackenzie

Indian Myth and legend
provides a compendium and guide to the seemingly infinite tales of stories still told throughout the subcontinent. Many of the most famous and significant tales are reproduced here, together with authoritative commentary and explanation. A fulsome introductory chapter sets the myths in their correct historical and social context, and the index is especially clearly laid out to supply a glossary of the characters and themes. There are 40 illustrations - of paintings and sculpture depicting incidents and characters from the stories.

Genres: Mythology, India, Nonfiction, Religion, Short Story Collection

463 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1913

About the author

Donald Alexander Mackenzie was a Scottish journalist and folklorist and a prolific writer on religion, mythology and anthropology in the early 20th century.

Reviews

[Gerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Myths and fables have always interested me. As a child the heroic tales captured my imagination but as an adult I have seen them as clues to new old worlds and civilizations and backdrops for scientific developments.

[Vaishali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not entirely accurate when compared to actual Sanskrit texts, but still an interesting read.

[katy p · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to DNF this book but I pushed through. This is not because it’s a bad book I’m sure others would enjoy it but personally the writing style didn’t speak to me, for a book that’s about myths it didn’t transport me. It wasn’t magical. Instead I just kept getting annoyed over how the women were treated, and a little bored elsewhere.

[Charles Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feels slightly dated now, and the archaeology of the early Indian civilisations will have moved on. However, a good introduction to the major Indian sagas.