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Tales of the Enchanted Islands of the Atlantic

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Tales of the Enchanted Islands of the Atlantic was written by Thomas Wentworth Higginson (1823-1911). Mr. Higginson was a militant abolitionist who served in the 51st Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, which was an all-black regiment commanded by white officers (due to governmental regulations of the time). In 1869, he published a book about his Civil War experiences entitled Army Life in a Black Regiment.

In 1898, Mr. Higginson published this book, which is a collection of ancient and classical legends that discuss islands in the Atlantic. Every story is covered here from Socrates's discussion of Atlantis, through the classical Irish stories of Oisin, the British stories of Taliessin and Arthur, through the story of Ponce de Leon.

I found this book to be a very interesting read. I liked the selection of stories that the author incorporated, and the charm that he put into each story. This book is something of a forgotten favorite, but it should be remembered. If you get a chance, pick it up and spend a few enchanted evenings in the long-ago magic islands of the Atlantic.

"Tales of The Enchanted Islands of The Atlantic" by Thomas Wentworth Higgins is reprinted from the 1898 edition. The dedication reads, in part: "These legends unite the two sides of the Atlantic and form a part of the common heritage of the English-speaking race." Contents include stories of Atlantis, Taliessin, the Swan-children of Lir, Bran, Merlin, Maelduin, St. Brandan, Guardians of the St. Lawrence, and the Fountain of Youth, among others.
Enchantment is exactly what these tales offer up, with poetry, song, plot and character feeding my enjoyment of Arthurian, Celtic and other sources that speak to those isolated and mysterious destinations in the middle of a vast and daunting ocean. Nothing here is new or original, but it is a lively and entertaining read and I like the old-fashioned quality of these worthy stories.