This work investigates the foundational myths and legendary narratives that shaped the cultural and religious consciousness of the Middle Ages. H.A. Guerber provides a comprehensive survey of the folklore, heroic sagas, and religious traditions that permeated medieval European society. By synthesizing diverse oral traditions and historical texts, the author constructs a framework for understanding how these stories functioned as both entertainment and moral instruction for medieval populations.

Scholars and readers frequently cite this text as a foundational reference for those seeking an accessible entry point into medieval mythology. While the prose reflects the academic standards of its original publication era, it remains a widely consulted resource for its breadth of coverage and systematic organization of complex folklore traditions.