The Golden Legend: Poetry Guide and Free Edition
The Golden Legend: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
The Golden Legend is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth (1807–1882).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Golden Legend" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is a narrative poem written during the mid-19th century. The poem unfolds stories of saints and legends from Christian traditions, echoing themes of faith, sacrifice, and the supernatural. It intricately weaves historical and mythical elements, with a central focus on characters like Prince Henry, whose life and struggles against despair and disease set the frame for the unfolding legends. The opening of the poem sets a dramatic tone with a prologue where Lucifer and the Powers of the Air attempt to topple a sanctified Cross, thwarted by Saints and Angels. Following this prologue is the introduction of Prince Henry, who is afflicted with a mysterious illness and finds himself in a restless state, longing for comfort and peace. He encounters Lucifer, disguised as a physician, who offers remedies that delve into dark temptations. As the narrative progresses, we see the interplay between Henry's despair and the legends of sacrifice and redemption, notably through his interaction with figures who explore deep existential themes. The dichotomy between light and darkness, along with the weight of sin and the promise of salvation, lays the foundation for the rest of the poem.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Golden Legend
- Author credits: Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth (1807–1882)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- American poetry -- 19th century
Gutenberg collections
- Category: British Literature
- Category: Mythology, Legends & Folklore
- Category: Poetry
Read this edition
View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.
Sources
More in Books & Authors
Keep reading
