Morpheus

by Katharina Hacker

With great imagination, Katharina Hacker has created seven stories, all inspired by figures of classical mythology. Many crossreferences link the stories, but almost all are set in the modern world. Among the themes are those of (mythological) past and present, remembering and forgetting, being able to speak and being condemned to silence, love and loss, guilt, frustration and other obsessions. What is essential to the stories is the the language is poetic, at times rhythmical, and with words chosen for their sound as well as for the images they evoke. Their mood is sometimes ghostly, sometimes sad; all are imbued with a triste humor. Hacker’s ease with classical figures is reflected in their immediacy for the contemporary reader.

103 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically "Where are They Now: Greek Mythological Figures". I'd recommend brushing up on Greek Mythology before reading. I was really into mythology as a teenager but had forgotten a lot of the stories an figures. There is a small glossary at the end of the book, but not quite enough to get me up to speed. Once I brushed up on things, it was an enjoyable book. Short stories about mythological beings after the fall of the gods and dealing with their remaining issues in the modern world, such as yearning for human interaction and getting over betrayal.