Gods, Men and Monsters from the Greek Myths

The World Mythology

by Michael Gibson

Twenty-six stories from Greek mythology, derived from Hesiod, Homer and Ovid recount heroic deeds, divine machinations and natural etiologies in a metamorphic narrative punctuated with sumptuous illustrations

Genres: Mythology, Fantasy, Childrens, Historical Fiction, Adventure

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[Ma. Kristina Lomentigar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so fascinated with Mythology when I was in my last year in middle school. Then somehow my "then" boyfriend let me lent this book of his. Up until now I didn't have the chance to give it back to him. When I still have time I still browse the pictures of this book. Highly recommended for obsessed in Mythology stories people like me!

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this all the time when I was a kid. I just LOVE these stories. I can't believe this book is still in print! I was so happy to find it!

[Paola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uno dei libri che ho adorato di più da bambina, raccoglie moltissime storie della mitologia greca, letto più e più volte.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Låt gå att det är en ungdomsbok, så den är lite förenklad (hela historien om Medea och Jason är väldigt selektivt berättad). Teckningarna helt fantastiska och det är alltid kul att fräscha upp kunskaperna i grekisk mytologi.

[Monobella · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was in middle school I just read what ever I could and was obsessed with the greeks, romans and what little there was on the babylonians. I found this book in Preedy's an old UK chain of general stores similar to woolworth's. This was a birthday present and until recently (lost somehow) a well thumbed read. The book presented the stories in a simple language and prose style but does not patronise the reader. The illustrations are stunning and the section on the Gods family tree was truly fascinating. This is a book worthy of being read by anyone both young and old who is interested in the beliefs of a culture who has shaped europe.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite mythology book when I was young. The pictures are amazing, too. I haven't looked at this book in years, yet I can still see most of the pictures in my mind. I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a good mythology book for kids. You will not be disappointed!

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairly sure that reading this this book at 8 or 9 years old was huge contributing factor to my interest in mythology in later life. Flicking through it reminded me what a brilliant book it is for kids and adults alike. Fantastic illustrations too.

[Helio Figueiredo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a life changing book for me. I received it as a present when I was 8. It was like nothing had ever seen before, a complete escape from the world in which I lived. The illustrations are a thing of beauty.

[Omni · Rating 5 out of 5]

my favorite youth mythology book. Best pictures ever.

[Joss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I devoured this book when I was about 5 or 6, and I remember adoring it, for the illustrations as much as the stories. It was a wonderful introduction to mythology for me.

[lynnet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book,it got me hooked on Greek Mythology as a child and made my life that much easier when I was older and studying literature.

[Madeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this with my middle school World History class, and they loved it. It's a well-written, descriptive collection of the Greek myths perfect for ages 10+.

[Jacopo · Rating 5 out of 5]

bellisimo questo libro, ma sopratutto le 12 fatiche di ercole

[Petrus Forsgren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grekisk Mytologi av Michael Gibson med bilder av Giovanni Caselli (1977). En introduktion till berättelserna, världen samt händelseutvecklingen från världens skapelse till invävt i Homeros Illiaden och Odyssen.

Världen är skapad ur tomrum (Kaos), ur vilket Gaia (Jorden) samt Tartaros (Underjorden) härstammar från. Gaia och hennes man Uranos (Himlen) skapade titanerna. Ur titanerna härstammar olymperna, främst Zeus där en mängd demigudar härstammar i sin tur från honom. Monster i olika former härstammar exempelvis från Gaia och Tartaros. Exempelvis finns Midas (Allt han rör blev till guld) samt Narcissus (Han blev kär i sin egen spegelbild) i denna bok. Även Trojas fall eller Prometheus och Zeus (Som skapade de första människorna, även lärde ut konsten att göra eld som en av de första kunskaperna). Eller Herakles tolv bragder (Född av Zeus och Alkemene, Hera försöker döda honom genom att lägga ormar i hans vagga. Men Herakles dödar ormarna med sina händer, se den klassiska symbolen för evighet korsade ormar i en 8 form, han växer upp och vill tjäna en kung för att sona sina brott, han ska därmed göra 12 uppgifter)-Otroligt spännande faschinerande berättelser därmed högsta betyget-med tanke på inflytande i den västerländska världen. Orakel, plikter, passioner, ära eller storhet. Den antika världen känns här levande.

Bra längd på boken, perfekt som uppslagsverk eller ett kapitel innan läggdags. Vackra illustrationer ett konstverk i bokhyllan.

[Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was.. I don't really have a word. I would say educational, which it was, but I did know most of the stories already. It was easy to read while also being really dry, so found myself having to put it down after like 3 chapters or so. The actual written part was fine. If you want concise and condensed retellings of well known Greek myth, sure, would recommend. However, I hate the illustrations, they really bring the book down for me. The colour pallet... it's either too saturated, or really desaturated. I also personally disliked how the artist interpreted some of the monsters, and I'm not a huge fan of how they draw people either. And I mean this with no offence meant to the artist, it just brought the experience down for me personally.

[Julia MacBeath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning book. I was given my copy in the seventies when it was published and am pleased to be sharing it with my son now. Illustrated elegantly with a beautiful degree of detail by Giovanni Caselli, who is now
a lecturer in palaeoanthropology  as well as artist, incorporating many mythological references in his stunning ink drawings and coloured illustrations. The text is intelligent and vivid, but accessible to children. Can't recommend highly enough.

[Tristan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An old favourite from childhood this one. I have a 1977 hardback edition from Peter Lowe. The illustrations particularly delighted me when I was young, but I do believe I read the somewhat basic retellings of the myths a few times. Nice to revisit this, having recovered it from my parents’ collection.

[Mrs Book Pond (Anna-Lena) · Rating 3 out of 5]

En heltäckande bok om grekisk mytologi, rikt illustrerad med svulstiga bilder. Jag läste den parallellt med Kirke, vilket var bra för att få kontext. Men sagorna är inte jättefängslande för mig (längre, jag älskade detta som barn) och de innehåller otroligt mycket namn, vilket är så förvirrande.

[Akis Sikaminidis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great artwork , accurate information

[Myra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really Beautiful drawings.

[Björn H · Rating 4 out of 5]

En mycket trevlig och lättläst introduktion till den grekiska gudavärlden. Berättelserna återberättas på ett bra och levande sätt.

[Mark Gough · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this so many times as a child and pleased to be able to pass it to my children.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the books that originally got me hooked on mythology, I think.

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book awhile ago, but in Swedish^^
Greek myths always amaze me~

Swedish title: Grekisk MYTOLOGI

[Noor · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 ⭐️

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent renditions of the greek myths. I listened in my car and my kids did not even complain!