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Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 292.13
EAN: 9780446607254
ISBN: 0446607258
Label: Grand Central Publishing
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 352
Publication Date: 1999-08-01
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Studio: Grand Central Publishing

Customer Rating:
Review Summary: MYTHOLOGY by Edith Hamilton
Review: Mythology is classicist Edith Hamilton's book on Greek, Roman and Norse mythology, illustrated by Steele Savage (no kidding). The bulk of the work is devoted to the Greek, and the Norse is mentioned only in passing. Myths are arranged thematically, not chronologically (except for the initial creation), which is disruptive to the flow of the work.

Hamilton does several things well. First, she gives history on the authors from whom these stories have descended, and differentiates between their styles. Second, she gives good insight into the character of the people of the time as well as into the character of the mythological figures. She obviously knows the material and cares about it.

Mythology reads like a history book. Many stories get wrapped up too quickly, and quite a few are told too simplistically. Many details are left out. The writing is juvenile at times, and paragraph flow is occasionally an issue. This is almost a Cliff's Notes on mythology. Ultimately, Hamilton makes most of these myths boring. Others, with too many details cut out, the reader will find hard to get into.

Mythology has some good things to offer, but on the whole, this is an inferior way to enjoy the myths. This book may be useful to some as a quick-reference guide, but that's about it.

TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT

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Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A classic introduction.....
Review: I remember being captivated by this book and its stories when I was in the 5th grade. I recently bought it for my 5th-grade daughter, when she started reading the "Pendragon" series, so she would have a better understanding of the mythological references in that modern children's series. She liked it better than Pendragon!

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Customer Rating:
Review Summary: not my type
Review: I thought this book was so boring. I had to force myself to read it. I had to read it for school, i had to end up finding the summary so i wouldn't have to read the rest.I know that its considered a classic, i guess this was seriously not my type of book. I give it 2 stars because it could have been worst.

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Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Well known telling of major "tales of gods and heroes"
Review: This is a long standing work on mythology. The emphasis is on Greek and Roman tales, with a too brief discussion of Norse mythology. That some of the other reviewers mention it in the same breath as Bulfinch is testimony to the volume's value.

The work features a nice introductory essay to "set up" the discussion of Greek and Roman myths. There is also a rather unsatisfying brief introduction to the underdeveloped section on Norse mythology.

The first part features "The Gods, the Creation, and the Earliest Heroes." Here, Hamilton examines the array of gods, the stories of creation, and early heroes (such as Prometheus, Europa, and Polyphemus [hero??]). Part Two explores "Stories of Love and Adventure." In this segment, Hamilton considers Cupid and Psyche, and a series of tales of love (e.g., Pyramus and Thisbe, Orpheus and Eurydice, and so on). Also, the story of the Golden Fleece is retold.

Part Three summarizes "The Great Heroes before the Trojan War," including renderings of Perseus, Theseus, and the great Hercules. Part Four, as one might have anticipated, looks at "The Heroes of the Trojan War." Hamilton spends time on a number of figures and stories, such as Paris, the fall of Troy, Odysseus' post-Troy adventures, and the travails of Aeneas.

Part Five considers "Great Families of Mythology," such as the Houses of Atreus (think Agamemnon and Iphigenia), Thebes (Cadmus, Oedipus, Antigone), and Athens. Hamilton then moves to Part Six, where she summarizes the stories of "The Less Important Myths," including Midas, Glaucus and Scylla, inter alia.

Part Seven, as already noted, is a too brief coverage of "The Mythology of the Norsemen."

And, finally, a wonderfully helpful genealogy at the end (e.g., Ancestors of Perseus and Hercules, the House of Troy, and so on).

This is well written and shows considerable erudition. There are some problems in coverage as noted, but, in the end, this is still a welcome volume.

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Customer Rating:
Review Summary: If you like greek mythology then buy this book
Review: I read this book of my own free will. this book is quite amazing,the detail and research she puts in is astounding. i am the kind of person to always take notes on the books i read and the extensive index she has is incredibly useful.
some people that have read this say its dry and boring, i read a lot of books and from my experience there are a lot dryer authors, and to really be a book of information, you can't expect it to be the most attention grabbing book of all time.
any way, if greek mythology is an interest of yours you will love this book.

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