Wonderful to be read together aloud, or as a component of a living books home school. These short and quickly read stories are a great introduction to classic literature. A joy to read to early readers, and an excellent tool for first to third graders to read on their own. Either way, children will delight in these short retellings of literary classics. From Bruce and the Spider to The Sword of Damocles, Julius Caesar to George Washington and his Hatchet, the stories found here will resonate throughout a lifetime. Although intended for children, adults will enjoy reading these stories aloud, and may even find it a great way to refresh their memories. Most of the fifty stories contained in this volume are the half-legendary tales of romantic episodes in the lives of well known heroes or famous men or in the history of a people. Some have historical value, some are useful in that they point to greater moral truths, still others are intended only to amuse. Some have been derived from ancient sources, and some have come through the ballads and folks tales of the English speaking peoples. Nearly all are the subjects of frequent allusions in poetry and prose and in the conversation of educated people. The author has carefully excluded everything that is not strictly within the limits of probability that this volume does not trespass upon the domain of the fairy tale, fable or myth. Children naturally take a deep interest in such stories. The reading of them will give not only pleasure, but will help to lay the foundation for broader literary studies. This collection is intended as a supplemental reader in the middle primary grades, and as an valuable source of interest for all ages both in and out school.