Read by Jeff Harding

From the Stone Age to the Greek Tragedies, from Shakespeare to Robin Hood, we have always had our heroes. The hero is at the center of formative myths in every culture and persists to this day in world-conquering books, films and TV shows. But why do these characters continue to inspire us, and why are they so central to storytelling? Scalpel-sharp on the roots of storytelling and enlightening on the history and science of myth, is essential reading for anyone trying to write or understand fiction. Child teaches us how these stories still shape our minds and behavior in an increasingly confusing modern world, and with his trademark concision and wit, demonstrates that however civilized we get, we'll always need heroes

Mode of access: World Wide Web