Bulfinch, Thomas (1796-1867), was an American writer who became famous for his popular retelling of myths and legends for young people. Bulfinch’s most important book was The Age of Fable (1855). The book has introduced generations of young readers to the mythology of ancient Greece and Rome as well as to Celtic, Scandinavian, and Oriental mythology. Bulfinch’s The Age of Chivalry (1858) deals with legends about King Arthur. Legends of Charlemagne (1863) retells legends of the Middle Ages. The three books are commonly known as Bulfinch’s Mythology.
Bulfinch was born in Newton, Mass. He was the son of the American architect Charles Bulfinch. He worked for a Boston bank for 30 years and did not begin his literary career until he was 57 years old.
