Hero-Myths and Legends of the British Race

Hero-Myths and Legends of the British Race is a book by Maud Isabel Ebbutt, first published in 1910. This anthology brings together a diverse array of heroic tales from across the British Isles and beyond, including stories from Iceland, Spain, Ireland, and Constantinople.

While not exclusively British in origin, the collection focuses on characters who embody the ideals of heroism prevalent during the Dark and Middle Ages. Ebbutt includes several memorable heroines, such as the Irish Countess Cathleen, who sacrifices her soul to alleviate a famine; the Loathly Lady, redeemed by Sir Gawain’s love; and Rymenhild, who seduces Childe Horn and sets him on the path toward knighthood.

The book aims to present these ancient tales in a form accessible to modern readers while remaining faithful to medieval conceptions of heroism. Ebbutt also emphasizes the importance of cultural context, noting that these legends reflect the social life, virtues, vices, superstitions, and beliefs of earlier ages.