Take a photo of a barcode or cover
brandonpytel 's review for:
Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes
by Edith Hamilton
Mythology is a great reference book for all things Greek and Roman Gods: We get an overview of classical authors, lineages of the Gods, and detailed accounts of some of the most popular accounts of Greek and Roman mythology, all paired with beautiful illustrations from Jim Tierney.
The book is an ultimate companion for such epics, like the Iliad, Odyssey, or Aeneid, as well as a collection of summaries on some of the less popular tales, such as those surrounding lovers or lesser-known heroes.
Though the book is at its best when it’s detailing the humanity of the Olympians, or recounting a particular exciting adventure, such as the Quest for the Golden Fleece, it does drag at the middle, specifically when we’re getting the tales of the three major houses, of Thebes, Athens, and Atreus.
And pardon the hot take, but Edith Hamilton isn’t the most articulate of writers: her prose is riddled with vague pronouns, and overwhelmed with characters, while failing to offer so much as a lifeboat for readers trying to slog through unfamiliar text. I found myself rereading entire passages that could have simply been written better if she had more of an eye toward clarity.
The lives and tales of mythology are some of the most human narratives of all time; yet I’m still curious on what a more able writer, one with the patience and empathy to better guide their readers, could have done with these narratives. In other words, Mythology presents great historical context surrounding these tales, but lacks in what makes these tales so timeless: The simple art of storytelling.
What we’re left with is a reference book, a detailed one at that, but a reference book nonetheless: a collection of disparate tales that deserve better handling.
The book is an ultimate companion for such epics, like the Iliad, Odyssey, or Aeneid, as well as a collection of summaries on some of the less popular tales, such as those surrounding lovers or lesser-known heroes.
Though the book is at its best when it’s detailing the humanity of the Olympians, or recounting a particular exciting adventure, such as the Quest for the Golden Fleece, it does drag at the middle, specifically when we’re getting the tales of the three major houses, of Thebes, Athens, and Atreus.
And pardon the hot take, but Edith Hamilton isn’t the most articulate of writers: her prose is riddled with vague pronouns, and overwhelmed with characters, while failing to offer so much as a lifeboat for readers trying to slog through unfamiliar text. I found myself rereading entire passages that could have simply been written better if she had more of an eye toward clarity.
The lives and tales of mythology are some of the most human narratives of all time; yet I’m still curious on what a more able writer, one with the patience and empathy to better guide their readers, could have done with these narratives. In other words, Mythology presents great historical context surrounding these tales, but lacks in what makes these tales so timeless: The simple art of storytelling.
What we’re left with is a reference book, a detailed one at that, but a reference book nonetheless: a collection of disparate tales that deserve better handling.