"Because it was Beautiful" is the autobiography by the preeminent mythologist, art historian, artist, and writer Alexander Eliot. "I lived through eighty-one percent of the twentieth century. My career as an art journalist, novelist, foreign correspondent on the cultural beat, eager lover, and comparative mythologist, was lucky indeed. But there's no use in receiving unless one can give back, so I've decided to convey the true story of what happened, and introduce the following fellow-seekers, all of whom conversed with me, and most of whom became friends."