The Golden Thread takes its readers on an exciting voyage of discovery through some of the most important works of Western literature: from the Bible, The Aeneid and The Odyssey to King Lear, A Room of One's Own and Ulysses, Bruce Meyer offers a fresh and accessible approach to reading and understanding the narratives that underlie our culture. Meyer gives his readers the keys to unlock the joys of both ancient and contemporary literature, and in doing so unearths the basis of many of our contemporary ideas and allusions. This is a guide that will enable the lover of literature, or the reader who has always felt intimidated by the classics, to navigate through the great works with confidence--and a sense of wonder.