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Epicurious: The Greatest Epics and Classics from India and Around the World
WHAT ARE THE WORLD'S MOST EXCITING STORIES MADE OF?
Bloodthirsty demons and dragons snarling and spouting fire.
Powerful gods swooping in to defend their fearsome heroes with blood-curdling ferocity.
Ships being tossed about in terrible storms, perilous battles fought back-to-back, the rise and fall of cities and nations, and bouts of betrayal, war and tragedy.
Now you can spin the wheel of time and be enchanted by more than 40 such famous ancient epics from Greece, England, France, Italy, Finland, Iran, Japan and many other cultures and countries, besides India, of course! From The Iliad, The Odyssey and The Argonautica to Beowulf, Paradise Lost and The Faerie Queene, from The Divine Comedy, The Aeneid and The Metamorphoses to The Shahnameh, The Kalevala and The Epic of Gilgamesh, and from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and Raghuvamsha to Silappadikaram, Kumarasambhavam and Jivaka Chintamani, these classic tales of super adventures take you to faraway lands of wonder where danger lurks round every bend, evil is a no-no, heroism a byword, duty a given and goodness a must.
Retold with drama and humour for young readers, Epicurious breathes life into the longest-living and thrilling chronicles of the past.
Fun facts, trivia and much more!
Bloodthirsty demons and dragons snarling and spouting fire.
Powerful gods swooping in to defend their fearsome heroes with blood-curdling ferocity.
Ships being tossed about in terrible storms, perilous battles fought back-to-back, the rise and fall of cities and nations, and bouts of betrayal, war and tragedy.
Now you can spin the wheel of time and be enchanted by more than 40 such famous ancient epics from Greece, England, France, Italy, Finland, Iran, Japan and many other cultures and countries, besides India, of course! From The Iliad, The Odyssey and The Argonautica to Beowulf, Paradise Lost and The Faerie Queene, from The Divine Comedy, The Aeneid and The Metamorphoses to The Shahnameh, The Kalevala and The Epic of Gilgamesh, and from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and Raghuvamsha to Silappadikaram, Kumarasambhavam and Jivaka Chintamani, these classic tales of super adventures take you to faraway lands of wonder where danger lurks round every bend, evil is a no-no, heroism a byword, duty a given and goodness a must.
Retold with drama and humour for young readers, Epicurious breathes life into the longest-living and thrilling chronicles of the past.
Fun facts, trivia and much more!
265 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 25, 2023
2 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 13, 2023
My rating: 4.5🌟
Synopsis ~
Epicurious is an anthology of epic tales from India and around the world. The book starts by describing what can be defined as an epic, and when exactly a folk tale turns into an epic. It describes the origin of the word and which authors have contributed the most in turning those tales to epics with their writings.
The book then takes us to a journey of total 45 epic tales out of which a massive number of 14 epics are of indian origin.
Review ~
The book starts with the enticing and gripping story of Beowulf, the hero of Denmark and Sweden (Anglo-Saxon England), and takes us through many such adventures with the heroes of the ages.
The book has covered stories like "Adam and Eve, and the garden of eden", and "Ramayana", and even "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey", in summarised and yet in a graceful manner.
The overall storytelling tone is very poetic and keeps the reader hooked to continue reading. The narration of each epic keeps one wanting more. Each story ends with a blurb describing the origin of the story, who wrote it and why.
Although, summarising an epic had both pros and cons. On one hand, it leaves the reader with much anticipation, leaving them with a desire to read the entire stories which again are individual books altogether. On the other hand, summarising an entire book into a 3-4 page summary, although done really well, still ends up losing some of its charm.
All in all, I highly recommend reading this book as it has pushed me to get my hands on the original epics now.
Synopsis ~
Epicurious is an anthology of epic tales from India and around the world. The book starts by describing what can be defined as an epic, and when exactly a folk tale turns into an epic. It describes the origin of the word and which authors have contributed the most in turning those tales to epics with their writings.
The book then takes us to a journey of total 45 epic tales out of which a massive number of 14 epics are of indian origin.
Review ~
The book starts with the enticing and gripping story of Beowulf, the hero of Denmark and Sweden (Anglo-Saxon England), and takes us through many such adventures with the heroes of the ages.
The book has covered stories like "Adam and Eve, and the garden of eden", and "Ramayana", and even "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey", in summarised and yet in a graceful manner.
The overall storytelling tone is very poetic and keeps the reader hooked to continue reading. The narration of each epic keeps one wanting more. Each story ends with a blurb describing the origin of the story, who wrote it and why.
Although, summarising an epic had both pros and cons. On one hand, it leaves the reader with much anticipation, leaving them with a desire to read the entire stories which again are individual books altogether. On the other hand, summarising an entire book into a 3-4 page summary, although done really well, still ends up losing some of its charm.
All in all, I highly recommend reading this book as it has pushed me to get my hands on the original epics now.
October 23, 2023
What makes an epic? A poetic tale of a hero who does his duty for the greater good, told extensively, she explains in the beginning of the book.
Epicurious is an essence of epics, either written in word or told by the word of mouth, strewn across the globe, ranging from Iran to India, Denmark to Italy, Spain to Ireland and so many more countries.
It consists of 45 epics, told in a succinct style, so that your kid knows the stories, rather epics, from the whole wide world and not just Ramayana and Mahabharata.
@sreelatamenon also includes a tiny introduction of the author along with an interesting addition of their muses.
The book is enriched with illustrations and here I must add an awed word about the impeccable cover.
The book kickstarts chronologically, with the first epic ever told - Beowulf, popular in Scandinavian countries. It then goes on to Dante's Divine Comedy, Ramayana, Mahabharata and so on. The epics are packaged neatly for the reading (or listening) pleasure of your little persons.
It's enriching and empowering at once. Stories, you see, are power. They add wings of imagination and Epicurious certainly adds many sets.
Epicurious is an essence of epics, either written in word or told by the word of mouth, strewn across the globe, ranging from Iran to India, Denmark to Italy, Spain to Ireland and so many more countries.
It consists of 45 epics, told in a succinct style, so that your kid knows the stories, rather epics, from the whole wide world and not just Ramayana and Mahabharata.
@sreelatamenon also includes a tiny introduction of the author along with an interesting addition of their muses.
The book is enriched with illustrations and here I must add an awed word about the impeccable cover.
The book kickstarts chronologically, with the first epic ever told - Beowulf, popular in Scandinavian countries. It then goes on to Dante's Divine Comedy, Ramayana, Mahabharata and so on. The epics are packaged neatly for the reading (or listening) pleasure of your little persons.
It's enriching and empowering at once. Stories, you see, are power. They add wings of imagination and Epicurious certainly adds many sets.
May 13, 2025
Epicurious is a delightful collection of some of the greatest adventure stories that takes the readers on a rollercoaster ride & keeps them hooked throughout.. The language used is rich and lucid, easy for all age groups to understand. What makes this book really stand out is how it brings to life famous epics from all around the world. From the mighty gods and heroes of Greece to the powerful legends of India, Japan, the book is packed with thrilling moments. It covers well-known works like the Iliad, Ramayana, Shahnameh, and many more in a way that’s easy for young readers to enjoy.
The writing style is simple yet amazing with a flawless narration and well maintained pace. This is my second book by the author and I'm impressed by the way she writes. The book is available on Amazon, do grab your copies now & give it a try.. Overall, Epicurious is a treasure trove of ancient tales told in a fresh and exciting way. It’s perfect for kids who love adventure and want to learn about different cultures through stories. Highly Recommended.
The writing style is simple yet amazing with a flawless narration and well maintained pace. This is my second book by the author and I'm impressed by the way she writes. The book is available on Amazon, do grab your copies now & give it a try.. Overall, Epicurious is a treasure trove of ancient tales told in a fresh and exciting way. It’s perfect for kids who love adventure and want to learn about different cultures through stories. Highly Recommended.
August 21, 2025
"Epicurious: The Greatest Epics and Classics from India and Around the World" by Sreelata Menon is a captivating collection of ancient tales from across the globe. This award-winning book, recognized with the Sahitya Sparsh Award 2024, brings together over 40 epic stories, including Indian classics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata, as well as international tales like Beowulf and The Divine Comedy .
*Key Features:*
- Diverse Storytelling: Menon masterfully retells epic stories from various cultures, including Greece, England, France, Italy, Finland, Iran, and Japan, making it a rich and engaging read.
- Fun Facts and Illustrations: The book includes interesting trivia and captivating illustrations, enhancing the reading experience.
Overall, "Epicurious" is an enriching and empowering read, perfect for young readers and adults alike, who will appreciate the author's skill in bringing these ancient tales to life.
*Key Features:*
- Diverse Storytelling: Menon masterfully retells epic stories from various cultures, including Greece, England, France, Italy, Finland, Iran, and Japan, making it a rich and engaging read.
- Fun Facts and Illustrations: The book includes interesting trivia and captivating illustrations, enhancing the reading experience.
Overall, "Epicurious" is an enriching and empowering read, perfect for young readers and adults alike, who will appreciate the author's skill in bringing these ancient tales to life.
March 18, 2024
This is a great introduction to epics and myths. I wish I had this book to read when I was younger!
It covers legends with an introduction to what they really mean, how they came to be, and why we should read them. Each individual story consists of information about the author, why the story was written, and some interesting tidbits.
It spans a total of 45 stories but doesn't feel dragged in any place. A fun read.
It covers legends with an introduction to what they really mean, how they came to be, and why we should read them. Each individual story consists of information about the author, why the story was written, and some interesting tidbits.
It spans a total of 45 stories but doesn't feel dragged in any place. A fun read.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews