Hero Tales by James Baldwin

James Baldwin's retellings gather the great hero legends of Greece, the ancient North, and the age of Charlemagne into a single, vivid collection shaped for young readers and school use. In his introduction, he explains that these stories have endured because they speak to universal ideals of courage, justice, loyalty, and wonder, and he adapts them in clear, accessible language without losing their ancient power. The book moves from Apollo's divine birth and founding of his temple at Delphi, to the tragic fate of Meleager and the Calydonian boar hunt, to "The Choice of Hercules," where the hero must decide between ease and virtue. It then turns to Norse myth, following Odin, Hoenir, and Loki through a chain of deceit, ransom, treasure-seeking, and cursed gold, as Loki's cunning brings danger, greed, and doom. Rich with myth, romance, and moral struggle, these tales invite readers into a world where heroic choice carries lasting consequences. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.