1888 Rare Book - Curious Myths of the Middle Ages by Sabine Baring-Gould

Author: Sabine Baring-Gould.
Title: Curious Myths of the Middle Ages.
Publisher: London, Rivingtons, 1888. New Edition.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 7" x 5".
Pages: xii, 566 pages.
Binding: Very good original publisher's green cloth binding, decorated in black and gilt on the spine and upper cover, featuring the charming "Man in the Moon" device reproduced from within the text. Binding remains solid and attractive with light shelf wear and minor rubbing to extremities. Hinges firm under a protective, removable mylar cover.
Content: Very good content. Pages are clean and sound with occasional light foxing and age toning as expected. A well-preserved copy of this substantial Victorian study of medieval folklore, legend, superstition, and popular belief.
Illustrations: Illustrated throughout with numerous textual illustrations, diagrams, reproductions of medieval seals, woodcuts, symbols, and historical engravings.

Estimate: (USD 250–300).

The book: First published in 1866, Curious Myths of the Middle Ages is one of the most entertaining and influential Victorian studies of medieval folklore, legend, and popular belief. Drawing upon a remarkable range of historical, literary, and ecclesiastical sources, the work examines the origins and development of some of Europe's most enduring myths, including The Wandering Jew, Prester John, The Divining Rod, The Seven Sleepers of Ephesus, William Tell, The Dog Gellert, The Mountain of Venus, Fatality of Numbers, The Terrestrial Paradise, The Legend of the Crossbill, The Lore of the Whitsun Ales, and The Sangreal or Holy Grail. Illustrated throughout, the volume explores the fascinating intersection of history, religion, superstition, and storytelling, revealing how legends evolve across centuries while continuing to shape the cultural imagination. More than a century after its publication, it remains a classic work of folklore scholarship and a highly desirable title for collectors of mythology, medieval studies, Arthurian literature, and Victorian antiquarian works.

The author: Sabine Baring-Gould (1834–1924) was an English priest, folklorist, antiquarian, novelist, historian, and one of the most prolific writers of the Victorian era. Best remembered today as the author of the hymn Onward, Christian Soldiers, he published hundreds of books and articles on folklore, religion, archaeology, travel, and history. A pioneering collector of folk traditions and rural customs, Baring-Gould possessed a rare ability to combine serious scholarship with engaging storytelling. His works helped preserve countless legends and beliefs that might otherwise have been forgotten, and Curious Myths of the Middle Ages remains one of his most celebrated achievements, reflecting both his vast learning and his lifelong fascination with the strange and marvelous traditions of the past.