I have been writing poetry for 60 years, often basing my poems on Greek myths and Hebrew stories. I have won various prizes for my work and now sit on the Advisory Board of The Society of Classical Poets in New York. In addition, I am a regular feature writer on culture, classics, and poetry for The Epoch Times. Thus, I live and breathe myth, epic, and poetry! Also, I have a First Class honors degree (aka: Summa Cum Laude) in English Literature alongside two post-graduate degrees, one with Distinction.
I love this book because it tells the well-known stories of the early Greek gods and investigates many of their mythology's lesser-known aspects.
Furthermore, the book is written in a witty and entertaining style whilst simultaneously remaining erudite and deep–a difficult balance to achieve. This is a perfect complement to Fry’s equally brilliant The Ode Less Travelled, and it left me wanting to know more.
STEP INTO ANOTHER WORLD - OF MAGIC, MAYHEM, MONSTERS AND MANIACAL GODS - IN STEPHEN FRY'S MOMENTOUS SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER, MYTHOS
'A romp through the lives of ancient Greek gods. Fry is at his story-telling best . . . the gods will be pleased' Times ___________
No one loves and quarrels, desires and deceives as boldly or brilliantly as Greek gods and goddesses.
In Stephen Fry's vivid retelling, we gaze in wonder as wise Athena is born from the cracking open of the great head of Zeus and follow doomed Persephone into the dark and lonely realm of the Underworld.…
This book not only tells the tales but also points out their significance for us today. The author is a psychiatrist and so there is a profound psychological approach to un-packing what is going on.
The book covers not the entire sweep of Greek myths, but instead focuses on just 12, and what a brilliant selection it is: ranging from the well-known myth of Narcissus to the less well-known Plato’s myth of Er. Fascinating stuff.
Not just the stories, but what they mean. Are myths really the repositories of deep wisdom and mystical secrets?
Readers' Favorite Book Award Winner
What is myth, and why does it have such a hold on the human mind? How does myth relate to near forms such as legend and fairy tale, and to other modes of understanding such as religion and science? What is a hero, what is a monster, and what function does magic serve? How has our relationship with myth and mythology changed over the centuries? And are there any modern myths?
This book follows the journey of a writer in search of wisdom as he narrates encounters with 12 distinguished American men over 80, including Paul Volcker, the former head of the Federal Reserve, and Denton Cooley, the world’s most famous heart surgeon.
In these and other intimate conversations, the book…
This is a short, easy-to-digest book, but what a genius book it is! While the other books are specifically about Greek myths, Armstrong deals with the question of myth across all cultures.
Her definition of a myth is one of the profoundest I have come across, and I regularly quote it: “A myth, it will be recalled, is an event that–in some sense–happened once, but which also happens all the time.” Hence why we can talk about the Oedipus complex and such-like: for they happen all the time.
As long as we have been human, we have been mythmakers. In A Short History of Myth, Karen Armstrong holds up the mirror of mythology to show us the history of ourselves, and embarks on a journey that begins at a Neanderthal graveside and ends buried in the heart of the modern novel.
Surprising, powerful and profound, A Short History of Myth examines the world's most ancient art form - the making and telling of stories - and why we still need it.
The Myths series brings together some of the world's finest writers, each of whom has retold a…
Just as my second recommendation by Neel Burton was written by a psychiatrist, so here we have a retelling by a French philosopher. And–typically–for a real philosopher, the question becomes a ‘meaning of life’ sort of question, and how do we live the good life?
Greek myths have much excellent advice to offer, and Ferry draws this out brilliantly. Thus, I love this particularly because whilst the myths remain the same in all the books I like, the telling of them, and drawing out their significance seems inexhaustible and varied.
More than 100,000 copies sold in France A fascinating new journey through Greek mythology that explains the myths' timeless lessons and meaning Heroes, gods, and mortals. The Greek myths are the founding narratives of Western civilization: to understand them is to know the origins of philosophy, literature, art, science, law, and more. Indeed, as Luc Ferry shows in this masterful book, they remain a great store of wisdom, as relevant to our lives today as ever before. No mere legends or cliches ("Herculean task," "Pandora's box," "Achilles heel," etc.), these classic stories offer profound and manifold lessons, providing the first…
This book follows the journey of a writer in search of wisdom as he narrates encounters with 12 distinguished American men over 80, including Paul Volcker, the former head of the Federal Reserve, and Denton Cooley, the world’s most famous heart surgeon.
In these and other intimate conversations, the book…
This book is really the definitive replacement to Robert Graves’ awesome The Greek Myths, which held sway for 50 years or so as the go-to book for detailed explanation alongside obscure erudition.
The good thing is, March’s book, whilst amazingly erudite and ‘complete’ (if one can ever be), is also highly readable and organized in a much superior and reader-friendly way than the Graves’ volumes. I like reference books, and this is my default classical reference book now.
What were the twelve labours of Herakles? Why did Zeus turn himself into a shower of gold? What was the name of the guard-dog of the Underworld? Which two-faced Roman god gave his name to the month January? What is the answer to the riddle of the Sphinx?
The myths of ancient Greece and Rome are the most dramatic and unforgettable tales of love, war, heroism and betrayal ever told. Whether it's Ikaros flying too close to the sun, Prometheus stealing fire from the gods or the tragedy of Oedipus, their characters have inspired art, literature, plays and films, and…
My book is a call to rediscover the wisdom of the Greeks and to heed their warnings against hubris, disorder, and the abandonment of moral law. I argue that myths are not relics of a bygone age but living narratives that speak directly to our deepest needs and challenges. By revisiting these stories, we can reclaim a sense of purpose, balance, and harmony.
In its synthesis of ancient wisdom and modern insight, it is a powerful reminder that the myths we tell shape the lives we lead. My work is both a celebration of Greek mythology and a timely meditation on the enduring truths that can guide us toward a more meaningful existence.
