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About A Wonder Book for Girls and Boys

A Wonder-Book for Girls and Boys is a children’s book by Nathaniel Hawthorne, which retells several Greek myths. The frame story is that a Williams College student, Eustace Bright, is telling these tales to a group of children. All the tales are modified from the original myths: The Gorgon’s Head - recounts the story of Perseus killing Medusa at the request of the king of the island, Polydectes. The Golden Touch - recounts the story of King Midas and his “Golden Touch”. The Paradise of Children - recounts the story of Pandora opening the box filled with all of mankind’s Troubles. The Three Golden Apples - recounts the story of Heracles procuring the Three Golden Apples from the Hesperides’ orchard, with the help of Atlas. The Miraculous Pitcher - recounts the story of Baucis and Philemon providing food and shelter to two strangers who were Zeus and “Quicksilver” (Hermes) in disguise. The Chimæra - recounts the story of Bellerophon taming Pegasus and killing the Chimæra.