Bulfinch's 'The Age of Chivalry' opens not with a tale but with a publisher's preface that situates the work alongside 'Pilgrim's Progress' and 'The Arabian Nights' as essential reading. The author's own preface, though not excerpted here, is referenced as setting forth his plan to present classical and medieval stories in 'simple, condensed form for young or busy readers.' This framing immediately signals that the book is a digest, not a primary source—a curated selection meant to introduce readers to the chivalric cycle without requiring them to tackle Malory's sprawling 'Morte d'Arthur' or obscure Welsh manuscripts.

The Arthurian Core and Its Sources

The excerpts reveal that Bulfinch's treatment of Arthurian legend draws heavily on Sir Thomas Malory's 'Morte d'Arthur,' which he describes as 'reduced into English' by Malory and printed by Caxton in 1485. Bulfinch does not present Malory's text verbatim; instead, he condenses and retells, focusing on 'the birth, life, and acts of King Arthur,' the adventures of his knights, and the quest for the Sangreal. The closing note of 'le Morte d'Arthur, with the dolorous death and departing out of this world of them all' indicates that Bulfinch follows the narrative arc from Arthur's rise to his fall. A first-time reader should expect a streamlined version of the familiar cycle, with emphasis on key episodes rather than the full, digressive texture of Malory.

The Mabinogeon: A Welsh Counterpoint

A significant portion of the excerpts is devoted to the 'Mabinogeon,' a collection of Welsh tales that Bulfinch presents as a 'curious monument of ancient manners.' He notes that these manuscripts were 'never printed' and 'seldom perused' until revived by antiquarians like Sir Walter Scott and Robert Southey. Bulfinch includes them to show that 'many of the round table fictions originated in Wales,' offering a different perspective on Arthurian material. The excerpts quote Southey's lament that 'there is not a greater desideratum in British literature than an edition of these tales,' and Bulfinch's inclusion of the Mabinogeon thus serves as a corrective, giving readers access to stories that were 'almost hopeless' to see in print. Readers should note that these tales are not part of the main Arthurian narrative but parallel traditions, with distinct characters and settings.

Editorial Additions and the Question of Completeness

The publisher's preface acknowledges that 'scrupulous care has been taken to follow the original text of Bulfinch,' but also notes that 'additional sections have been inserted' to 'add to the rounded completeness of the work.' Specifically, the section on Northern Mythology was enlarged with a retelling of the 'Nibelungen Lied' and a summary of Wagner's version, and 'Hero Myths of the British Race' includes outlines of Beowulf, Cuchulain, Hereward the Wake, and Robin Hood. These additions were made by the publishers, not by Bulfinch himself. For a first reading, this means the book is a composite: Bulfinch's original 1858 text is supplemented with later material that extends its scope beyond chivalric romance into Germanic and British hero myths. Readers should be aware that the 'Age of Chivalry' proper ends before these additions, which are editorial expansions.

Bulfinch's Method: Condensation and Accessibility

Bulfinch's stated goal, as paraphrased in the preface, is to present 'the results of his reading, in simple, condensed form for young or busy readers.' This method is evident in the excerpts: he does not reproduce entire texts but summarizes and selects. For example, the Mabinogeon section includes lengthy quotations from Southey's letters to illustrate the difficulty of obtaining Welsh translations, but the tales themselves are not given in full. Bulfinch's voice is that of a compiler and explainer, not a storyteller. He provides context—such as the history of the manuscripts and the efforts of scholars—rather than immersing the reader in the narrative. A first-time reader should approach the book as a reference or introduction, not as a continuous story. The structure is modular, with each chapter or section treating a separate legend or group of legends, allowing for selective reading.

For a first reading, begin with the Arthurian chapters to understand Bulfinch's core method, then explore the Mabinogeon to see how he incorporates less familiar traditions. The editorial additions at the end are best treated as appendices; they expand the book's scope but are not part of Bulfinch's original plan. Keep in mind that Bulfinch is a mediator, not a primary source—his value lies in making medieval romances accessible to a 19th-century audience, and his choices reflect that era's tastes and scholarly concerns.