A Treasury of Heroes and Heroines / A Record of High Endeavour and Strange Adventure from 500 B.C. to 1920 A.D.

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

25652

Title

A Treasury of Heroes and Heroines / A Record of High Endeavour and Strange Adventure from 500 B.C. to 1920 A.D.

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A Treasury of Heroes and Heroines chronicles high endeavors and strange adventures from 500 B.C. to 1920 A.D., blending historical figures like Buddha, Caesar, and Washington with legendary characters such as King Arthur and Don Quixote. This collection offers a vivid tapestry of human experience, contrasting saints, warriors, and fools to celebrate courage, sacrifice, and the enduring spirit of heroism across diverse cultures and eras.

Summary up to 500 words

Clayton Edwards' *A Treasury of Heroes and Heroines* serves as a colorful Hall of Fame, gathering dramatic lives from global history and fiction to illustrate the widest variety of human experience. Spanning from 500 B.C. to 1920 A.D., the anthology balances serious historical accounts with semi-historical figures and fictional characters to explore themes of idealism, madness, and high endeavor. The narrative opens with the life of Buddha, detailing his renunciation of royal luxury after witnessing the universal realities of old age, sickness, and death. This spiritual journey sets the tone for subsequent entries including Julius Caesar, Saint Patrick, and the tragic, magical end of King Arthur, who returns Excalibur to a lake before departing for Avalon. The collection extends to religious founders like Mohammed, who established Islam in Mecca, and explorers such as Columbus and Hudson who pushed the boundaries of the known world. Historical leaders like George Washington, Napoleon, and Abraham Lincoln stand alongside lesser-known but vital figures like Molly Pitcher and Florence Nightingale. Edwards also includes fictional heroes like William Tell and Don Quixote. The latter serves as a poignant symbol of high ideals carried to the point of madness; his delusional quests for chivalric glory, such as battling windmills he mistakes for giants, highlight the contrast between reality and the romanticized past. These semi-historical figures, including Robin Hood and Rip Van Winkle, act as court jesters in the Hall of Fame, enriching the work's range of colors. Ultimately, the book functions as both an educational record and an entertaining exploration of what society deems heroic. From martyrs and warriors to jesters and dreamers, Edwards presents a diverse tapestry of characters who, whether real or imagined, have left an indelible mark on human history and the collective imagination.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25652.epub.noimages

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data/epubs/pg25652.epub

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Categories

• Adventure
• Biography
• History