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986 reviews for:
Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes, 75th Anniversary Illustrated Edition
Edith Hamilton
3.97 AVERAGE
986 reviews for:
Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes, 75th Anniversary Illustrated Edition
Edith Hamilton
3.97 AVERAGE
Found a more interesting book to read.
informative
fast-paced
At the beginning of almost all the stories, the author makes it clear that there are other versions and explains which one she chose, or if she chose to mix more than one and explains why, which is really cool and informative. She also takes the time to contextualize the stories. I think it's a good introduction to Greco-Roman mythology, despite being overly opinionated (which I have find to add a comical tone, the way she completely trashes the characters and even ancient poets before highlighting the strong points). The part about Norse mythology was pretty weak though, but from what I know, it's hard to find writings about it.
It's not the book to read if you're looking for analysis and historical context, but a very handy reference guide to Who Did What in Greek and Roman mythology for those of us that need it. Hamilton's summaries of the stories are not academic or cerebral. They have the feel of a series of conversations with an erudite acquaintance who reveres the subject while not being shy about their opinions. Even in these Cliff's-Note versions, the myths have uncanny power, and Hamilton's writing can be quite beautiful (overuse of the word "bade" notwithstanding). At risk of revealing myself as an uneducated dope, I was continually surprised at just how aggressively a bunch of folktales from a corner of the Mediterranean have influenced European languages. There is also a whirlwind primer on Norse myth at the end (which includes an uncomfortably dated mention of "our great Tuetonic race"). There might be better and more finely tuned one-volume books on Greco-Roman mythology out there, but this is a perfect introduction.
I've been interested in Mythology since I was a kid, but I never got to read the original texts or any books about it. I did spend some sleepless nights devouring the information at Wikipedia, first on Egyptian, then Greek and Roman and finally even on Norse myth. Knowing this a friend lent me Edith Hamilton's book and I read it as soon as I could, coincidentally, at the same time I read the first half of Neil Gaiman's American Gods, a very original modern take on myth.
Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes proposes to give the reader a walk through the most important myths drawing as possible directly from the texts and original authors that brought their knowledge to later civilizations. Examples as Homer, Virgil, Ovid and Euripides are surely known to most people that are interested this theme. I was a bit disappointed to find out that it was mostly about Greek and Roman mythology, I'd have enjoyed reading more about others but this by no means kept me from enjoying it. The author covers a lot of what is known, ranging from creation myth to specific stories of gods and human heroes, including of course the epics as the Quest of the Golden Fleece, the Iliad, the Odyssey and the Aeneid but is by no means limited to those. In fact, some of my favourites were short ones about lesser gods or humans' not at all epic as for example Biton and Cleobis'. The way Edith Hamilton decided to transmit these stories is also quite interesting. At the start of each chapter she talks about the poets who first wrote those specific tales, which were the ones she decided to use as source and why, whether it was because they were the most complete or because she likes their style best. As she writes, she adapts most of the original texts, adds some quotes, comments, interprets and gives context to the tales. Although the beginning feels slow and at times confusing, as one continues it enthrals the reader and becomes easier and pleasurable. The last part of the book is the small introduction to Norse Mythology, with some stories and the identification of the main characters, while at the same time comparing it to the Greek and to humanity itself, showing it as a more sombre myth, frustrating and simultaneously somewhat conformed to the hardness of life and inescapable death.
More than only getting to know the classic mythologies, this book allows one to peek into the minds of the Greek and Roman people, notice the evolution of the stories and feel the belief fading as they are told by more recent authors. One thing that came to mind often is how human centred they are, how the gods end up behaving pretty much as humans do, being petty, loving, hating, envying, powerful and immortal as they are. The Norse gods seem to me more inspiring, probably because, not being omnipotent - themselves just living until Ragnarok, when they are sure to be defeated and die - they are more similar to humans and would probably help people fight through their lives, face the problems to which they found no solution, giving them purpose, even if it's not fighting for a blissful eternity as nowadays more prominent religions came up with. I must say though that I still have much to read and find out about the Mythology of the Norsemen.
Overall, Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes is good as a first look into the theme, interesting enough for those that already know some of the stories but want a closer look and an organized source and is probably even good to keep as a myth encyclopaedia to peek into it once in a while.
This review was first published on my blog.
Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes proposes to give the reader a walk through the most important myths drawing as possible directly from the texts and original authors that brought their knowledge to later civilizations. Examples as Homer, Virgil, Ovid and Euripides are surely known to most people that are interested this theme. I was a bit disappointed to find out that it was mostly about Greek and Roman mythology, I'd have enjoyed reading more about others but this by no means kept me from enjoying it. The author covers a lot of what is known, ranging from creation myth to specific stories of gods and human heroes, including of course the epics as the Quest of the Golden Fleece, the Iliad, the Odyssey and the Aeneid but is by no means limited to those. In fact, some of my favourites were short ones about lesser gods or humans' not at all epic as for example Biton and Cleobis'. The way Edith Hamilton decided to transmit these stories is also quite interesting. At the start of each chapter she talks about the poets who first wrote those specific tales, which were the ones she decided to use as source and why, whether it was because they were the most complete or because she likes their style best. As she writes, she adapts most of the original texts, adds some quotes, comments, interprets and gives context to the tales. Although the beginning feels slow and at times confusing, as one continues it enthrals the reader and becomes easier and pleasurable. The last part of the book is the small introduction to Norse Mythology, with some stories and the identification of the main characters, while at the same time comparing it to the Greek and to humanity itself, showing it as a more sombre myth, frustrating and simultaneously somewhat conformed to the hardness of life and inescapable death.
More than only getting to know the classic mythologies, this book allows one to peek into the minds of the Greek and Roman people, notice the evolution of the stories and feel the belief fading as they are told by more recent authors. One thing that came to mind often is how human centred they are, how the gods end up behaving pretty much as humans do, being petty, loving, hating, envying, powerful and immortal as they are. The Norse gods seem to me more inspiring, probably because, not being omnipotent - themselves just living until Ragnarok, when they are sure to be defeated and die - they are more similar to humans and would probably help people fight through their lives, face the problems to which they found no solution, giving them purpose, even if it's not fighting for a blissful eternity as nowadays more prominent religions came up with. I must say though that I still have much to read and find out about the Mythology of the Norsemen.
Overall, Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes is good as a first look into the theme, interesting enough for those that already know some of the stories but want a closer look and an organized source and is probably even good to keep as a myth encyclopaedia to peek into it once in a while.
This review was first published on my blog.
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Mythology had some interesting chapters, but i found most of it to be very convoluted and hard to read. I liked the love stories and the chapters about the trojan war. There were also parts that reminded me of stories in the Bible
Just updating the status here in Goodreads, but I've read this book during High School and College.
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
I think this may have been my dad's book but somehow I ended up with it and I always have it with me. I know all the stories by heart but I still always have it close by. It's probably one of the reasons I love mythology so much.
adventurous
challenging
informative
slow-paced