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Sacred Narrative: Readings in the Theory of Myth

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This book is a collection of essays on various theories and interpretive approaches to mythology. The editor, Alan Dundes, has compiled a broad range of studies that provide early approaches to theorizing myth-making and then moves into relatively recent approaches to myth. The essays are well-chosen, and they are linked together by Dundes' well-written introductions. Dundes is a fine folklorist, and his thorough grounding in the history of folklore study provides an excellent resource for placing the essays into a useful intellectual framework for learning about myth. Some of the essays are classics, and Dundes provides fair as well as critical appraisals of the various approaches used by the essayists. This compilation is essential for anyone interested in mythology as well as anyone interested in religious history and the social sciences.

For readers interested in learning about myth, this book is a great starting point. One of the world's best folklorists, Alan Dundes has compiled key texts in the study of mythology. The range of ideas and issues is excellent, and Dundes' headnotes provide insightful and essential introductions to an array of theories about myths. This volume is thoroughly grounded in serious scholarship, and it fairly presents a range of issues and approaches. When Dundes offers criticism, it's done with intelligence and insight, and he provides ample evidence to back his claims. Although the book works especially well as an introduction to theories of myth, this excellent compilation of articles should appeal to more advanced students of mythology.