Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths

I was pleasantly surprised by this retelling of Greek myths. The quality of the writing was first class, neither childishly simple nor over-relishing the gorier aspects. There was plenty of humour both in the writing and in the narration of the tales.

Though I was aware of bits and pieces of the myths before listening to this, I don’t think I knew the full story of any of them, and certainly had not picked up on all the family relationships between the various gods, heroes and monsters. As a sidelight I found I was learning more about some of the entities and places that had been mentioned in Urban Fantasy books.

I might perhaps have preferred an English narrator because of the occasional American pronunciation that jarred, like saying show more “plated” for the word “plaited”. This is not a fault of this narrator as I’ve heard the same pronunciation by another American actor. It didn’t impact my enjoyment of the narration and I’m sure I’ll be listening to this book again, and to other books narrated by Todd Haberkorn. show less

This was entertaining, but not at all scholarly. Evslin's retellings are pretty free and seem like the inspiration for some movies I've seen. He has a strong visual imagination. For example, the story of Atlanta compelled me to think of the movie Princess Mononoke, while the ball of string in the story of Theseus behaved just like those magic spheres that Jareth was always using in Labyrinth.

“Whoever takes me captive won't live long enough to enjoy it”
― Bernard Evslin, Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths

If you are seeking stories of Greek Mythology, might I suggest this wonderful little book?!

It is a gem. And it is packed full of adventure, fierceness and fun. It will take you through all the Gods....their stories, their individual sagas and adventures. It is a timeless read that I adore.

This is not a complicated book. And if you know nothing of Greek Mythology or do and just want to know more, it makes a great book to read.

They are all in here. And there are so many stories all brimming with excitement and fun. I first read this as a child but periodically read it again, purely for how much fun it is. It show more never loses its appeal.

It's short as well so you don't get bogged down. But this does not read as a text book which it is not. And the writing is not dry at all.

These are all short stories, all in one book and each story deals with a different adventure. The book starts where the reader is introduced to each individual God and and each individual Goddess and then goes on from there.

Highly recommended if one has an interest in Mythology. show less

It's a fantastic book for greek myths, especially for a starter. The stories are simple, interesting, but well written.

The only story I don't think is developed very well is the one about Eros and Psyche. It looks wired to me: Why did Eros have to be so mad when Psyche found he is a god? And why Eros told Psyche that she is not ready for love. The reasons are beyond my imagination...

Obviously written for a younger audience (compared to the compliation of Hamilton & Bulfinch) since most of the more obscure Greek myths (and in many cases, the more interesting ones) are left out entirely; of the myths which are included, only one version is presented of each, obscuring the fact that in many cases there were multiple versions of each myth, each version interesting and useful in its own right. Yet with simple language and direct verse, he quite excellently brings out a depth in the characters and a second meaning in stories which have rung hollow or been lost by other, supposedly great poets.

The earth breeds giants and ogres of indescribable horror -- the heavens hold omnipotent gods and goddesses, abounding in show more courage, strength and wisdom. Among the selected stories were that of: Perseus shows his courage in slaying Medusa and rescuing Andromeda while Theseus displays quick thinking in destroying many monsters including the Minotaur. Readers learn a new side of Daedalus, the father of Icarus, who invented the labyrinth for King Minos. The final stories of Atalanta, King Midas, and Pygmalion teaches the universal themes of love and greed which still abound in modern society.

While this is not as sophisticated as Edith Hamilton's "Mythology" or as academic as other texts, this one adapts the Greek tales in a very reader-friendly way. One can easily get a sense of the drama, intensity and personalities of these ancient heroes and anti-heroes.

The long list of vocabulary written in the back is quite accessible to the first time reader of Greek mythology plus shows the clear link between the Greeks and modern civilization.

Book Details:

Title Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myth
Author Bernard Evslin
Reviewed By Purplycookie show less

A great guide to some of the best known Greek myths. Many heros, gods and creatures are hilighted in simple, easy to read sections. Each one is given a few brief paragraphs, but not the pages and pages you'd find in text books. This isn't valuable to those taking a class, or looking to study the topic in depth. This is for those looking to acquaint themselves with well known stories for their own enjoyment. Recommended.

An interesting and succinct way to learn about Greek mythology. What I liked about the format is the overlap and the organization. If any particular character stands out, one can always read in depth texts (Theseus and Perseus come to mind).