The Hero with a Thousand Faces (first published in 1949) is a non-fiction book, and seminal work of comparative mythology by Joseph Campbell. In this publication, Campbell discusses his theory of the journey of the archetypal hero found in world mythologies.
Since publication of The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Campbell's theory has been consciously applied by a wide variety of modern writers and artists. The best known is perhaps George Lucas, who has acknowledged a debt to Campbell regarding the stories of the Star Wars films.
The Joseph Campbell Foundation and New World Library issued a new edition of The Hero with a Thousand Faces in July, 2008 as part of the Collected Works of Joseph Campbell series of books, audio and video recordings. In 2011, Time placed the book in its list of the 100 best and most influential books written in English since the magazine was founded in 1923.
Read more about The Hero With A Thousand Faces: Summary, Background, The Hero's Journey and Women, Artists Influenced By The Work
Famous quotes containing the words hero and/or thousand:
“Around the hero everything turns into a tragedy, around the demigod, a satyr-play, and around God—what? perhaps a “world”?”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)
“Charles Foster Kane: You always said you wanted to live in a palace.
Susan Alexander: Oh, a person could go crazy in this dump. Nobody to talk to, nobody to have any fun with.
Charles Foster Kane: Susan.
Susan Alexander: Forty-nine thousand acres of nothing but scenery and statues. I’m lonely.”
—Orson Welles (1915–1985)