In Search of Myths and Heroes

Accompanying the television series of the same name, this book sees Michael Wood go in search of the mythical past, the historical past and the literal truth to four great myths: Shangri-La, Jason and the Golden Fleece, the Queen of Sheba and Arthur. Wood's quest for the myths and heroes of the past led him on his own journey, from remote areas of Tibet to Africa, Greece, Ethiopia, Yemen, Jerusalem, Britain and Ireland, although the book in no way reads like a travelogue. Full of superb colour photographs, it traces the story of these four myths in literary and oral history, trying to piece together the evidence and retrace the events and places described, In essence, Wood's journey led him to explore how and why these myths are still part of our cultural heritage, why they continue to capture our imagination and why we still search for the truth.