Abstract

This is the fourth and final volume in Campbell's history of world mythology entitled, The Masks of God. It takes for its narrative the disintegration of the tradition from the middle of the twelfth century to the present-day, ending with a discussion of Mann and Joyce. Although sometimes stunning in insight, in an overall way it is less illuminating than the earlier three volumes. In his earlier works on primitive, oriental, and occidental mythological traditions he was dealing with complete and integral world-outlooks. The very fragmentation of the West's world-picture over the last few centuries makes Campbell's task in this volume virtually an impossible one. He has made a gallant, but only partially successful, effort at synthesis.--J. T.