In this little book the attempt has been to trace Greek History so as to be intelligible to
young children. In fact it will generally be found that classical history is remembered at an
earlier age than modern history probably because the events are simple and there was
something childlike in the nature of all the ancient Greeks. I would begin a child s reading
with the History of England as that which requires to be known best but from this I should
think it better to pass to the History of Greece and that of Rome (which is of course in
preparation) both because of their giving some idea of the course of time and bringing
Scripture history into connection with that of the world and because little boys ought not to
begin their classical studies without some idea of their bearing. I have begun with a few of
the Greek myths which are absolutely necessary to the understanding of both the history and of
art. As to the names the ordinary reading of them has been most frequently adopted and the
common Latin titles of the gods and goddesses have been used because these by long use have
really come to be their English names and English literature at least will be better
understood by calling the king of Olympus Jupiter than by becoming familiar with him first as
Zeus. CHARLOTTE M. YONGE. Not only entertaining for young readers! Originally released in 1876.
