Four Theories of Myth in Twentieth-Century History: Cassirer, Eliade, Levi Strauss and Malinowski

by Ivan Strenski

Strenski, Ivan

242 pages, Hardcover

First published August 13, 2000

Reviews

[Nicolas Annen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imo, there are better and more detailled overviews on the various mythological theories (see, for instance, the books by Robert A. Segal). What is nice, however, is that Strenski gives the reader a pretty good idea of who the four theorists were and why they believed what they believed. It is arguably just as much a study on the theorists as it is on their theories.

[Liam Malone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This represents a most difficult book because it discusses the history of how the 4 theorists came to the conclusions they did. It is a history of the history of thinking about myth. It deserves a second read because it is so dense. It includes dozens of names who influence or ignore each other. Of interest is how each of the 4 have formed their ideas in part based on the political and religious movements of their time.