The sacred books and early literature of the East; with an historical survey and descriptions

This anthology surveys major sacred and literary texts from the ancient Near East and Asia, placing them in historical and comparative context. It is significant as an early twentieth-century attempt to introduce English readers to the foundational scriptures, myths, and wisdom literature of world civilizations, with excerpts and explanatory notes.

Charles Francis Horne (1870–1942) was an editor, compiler, and writer who produced widely circulated reference works on history, religion, and literature. His anthologies and surveys helped shape popular knowledge of religious and philosophical traditions, including materials of interest to readers of comparative religion and esoteric history.