This second volume in the series offers essays on mythology and traditional literature from "a wide range of periods and cultures." Forty entries by academics focus on various figures from around the world in six sections: "Birth and Prophecy," "Trial and Quest," "The Host of Heroines," "Myth and Monstrosity," "The Culture Hero," and "Surveying Myth and Folklore." For example, "Birth and Prophecy" discusses the birth of Athena, "Trial and Quest" examines Odysseus and King Arthur, and "Surveying Myth and Folklore" considers American Indian trickster tales. Artemis, Moses, and Harry Potter are among the many heroes/heroines covered. Each essay consists of an overview, a summary, analysis, a discussion of cross-cultural influence (e.g., how the figure of Medusa influenced both Sylvia Plath and May Sarton), and either a text box of historical context or a discussion of how myth has been made into art. Each chapter ends with its own bibliography. Other notables include the Queen of Sheba and Quetzalcoatl, with less familiar topics such as Qutulun (Mongol princess) and Tomoe Gozen (female samurai warrior) providing intrigue. The title also features maps (ancient Greece, Mesopotamia) accompanied by charts listing mythological figures. There is a general index plus country/culture and chronological indexes. A sample lesson plan provides a good starting point for teachers. VERDICT This valuable resource, which will engage students and encourages thought, is useful for high school and undergraduate students for papers, projects, and class discussions.-Barbara Kundanis, Longmont P.L., CO (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

This volume provides a college-level examination of trial and quest stories in a manner that is well organized and not unduly dry. In addition to a summary and critical analysis, each of the book's 40 essays contains information about the myth's historical context as well as a discussion of the myth's appearance in later times. Although the essays stand alone, they are grouped under major themes: Birth and Prophecy, Trial and Quest, The Host of Heroines, Myth and Monstrosity, and The Culture Hero, as well as a Survey of Myth and Folklore, which takes a deeper look at certain myths, including Amazon warriors and Harry Potter. Although other cultures are touched on, the strength of this book is in the Western canon. Heroes and heroines from ancient Greece, Rome, and western Europe are particularly well covered. The supplementary material, which includes maps, a discussion of mythology in the classroom, and lists of different cultures' major heroes and heroines, is excellent and should prove very useful to both teachers and students. This book is recommended for academic libraries wishing to support general-mythology or cultural-survey courses. It will provide an excellent overview and jumping-off point for undergraduate and advanced high-school students.--Weak, Emily Copyright 2014 Booklist