“The unpretending volume with the above title is just what was needed to
popularize the results of the researches of such scholars as Wilson,
Spiegel, Grimm, Monier Williams, Müller, Whitney, and others, and to
place them within easy reach of readers who may not have access to those
writers. The author’s task seems to have been well executed; she has
produced an entertaining and instructive work, full of interesting
matter, illustrated by choice extracts, and written in an easy and
animated style. Such books, of course, are not consulted as final
authorities, but this is well worth reading by all who desire an initial
acquaintance with the subjects discussed.”
“One of the chief merits of the volume is the clearness with which the
author expresses her thoughts, and the skill with which she disentangles
the subtleties of metaphysical and religious doctrines, making them
plain to the most casual reader.”—_Boston Courier._
“The book, of course, is an elementary one, but it must be valuable to
the young student who desires to get a complete view of literature and
of the reciprocal relations of its various divisions. It can hardly fail
to interest the reader in the new science of which it gives results, and
lead him to more exhaustive studies for himself. If such a work could be
made a school text-book it would give pupils a long start in their
pursuit of a correct and systematic knowledge of language and
literature.”—_Buffalo Courier._
“Let no intelligent reader be deterred from its diligent perusal by
the learned name which introduces the interesting book now offered to
the public to illustrate studies in comparative mythology. The word
Sanskrit has an abstruse sound to unenlightened ears, but there is
nothing abstruse in the subject as here presented, and nothing
difficult to be understood by persons of ordinary culture.... The
writer’s treatment of the subject is much to be commended. It is
bright, fresh, earnest, and strong. She arouses the reader’s attention
from the beginning, charms his imagination by choice extracts from the
literary treasures of past ages, pleases his taste by drawing
parallelisms between the myths of the past and the fables of the
present, convinces him that one literature unites different nations
and different centuries, and that each nation is a link in the great
chain of development of the human mind. We earnestly commend this work
to all who would understand the unity and continuity of literature. It
is full of general information and instruction, the style is earnest
and easy, the enthusiasm sympathetic, and the presentation specially
thought-stirring and satisfactory.”—_Providence Journal._
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