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The Greek Myths: Stories of the Greek Gods and Heroes Vividly Retold
The Greek Myths contains some of the most thrilling, romantic, and unforgettable stories in all human history. From Achilles rampant on the fields of Troy, to the gods at sport on Mount Olympus; from Icarus flying too close to the sun, to the superhuman feats of Heracles, Theseus, and the wily Odysseus, these timeless tales exert an eternal fascination and inspiration that have endured for millennia and influenced cultures from ancient to modern.
Beginning at the dawn of human civilization, when the Titan Prometheus stole fire from Zeus and offered mankind hope, the reader is immediately immersed in the majestic, magical, and mythical world of the Greek gods and heroes. As the tales unfold, renowned classicist Robin Waterfield, joined by his wife, writer Kathryn Waterfield, creates a sweeping panorama of the romance, intrigues, heroism, humour, sensuality, and brutality of the Greek myths and legends.
The terrible curse that plagued the royal houses of Mycenae and Thebes, Jason and the golden fleece, Perseus and the dread Gorgon, the wooden horse and the sack of Troy - these amazing stories have influenced art and literature from the Iron Age to the present day. And far from being just a treasure trove of amazing tales, The Greek Myths is a catalogue of Greek myth in art through the ages, and a notable work of literature in its own right.
295 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2011
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3268 people want to read
About the author
Robin Waterfield
110 books697 followersRobin Anthony Herschel Waterfield is a British classical scholar, translator, editor, and writer of children's fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
September 22, 2025
Author Robin Waterfield (born 1952) has published a long list of books on ancient Greece, primarily on philosophers and writers. According to his website, he lives with his wife Kathryn, also a writer, on an olive farm in southern Greece. In 2011, they embarked on this retelling of Greek myths. They follow a more or less classical order: from the creation of the world to the establishment of Zeus's rule, followed by various smaller stories about the Olympian gods, and "hero" stories about (semi)-mortals (Heracles and others), and finally the Iliad and the Odyssey.
Naturally, this is all very fascinating material, and the stories they offer often are really captivating, although it can become a bit dull after the umpteenth time Zeus or another god seduced a nymph, a princess, or another stunningly beautiful woman, for which his wife Hera took revenge. The subtitle of this book states that the Waterfields have "vividly retold” it all, and I have to make a reservation about that. All in all, I found this a rather dry retelling, with little embellishment, and the authors limit themselves to an associative chain of stories, without many transitions. Of course, they are unfortunate that master storyteller Stephen Fry has now tackled the same material with his Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold, Heroes: Mortals and Monsters, Quests and Adventures, Troy, and Odyssey. In his own way, Fry has created a much more lively version (see my review here).
I also don't quite understand why they also included a retelling of the Iliad and the Odyssey, because in my view, those aren't really myths (although divine interventions do occur in these stories). On the other hand, they offer a very good reading guide for those who want to delve deeper into the subject.
Finally, there's also something to be said about their methodology (although that applies to all retellings of Greek myths, including Fry's). But I will discuss this in my review in my History account: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Naturally, this is all very fascinating material, and the stories they offer often are really captivating, although it can become a bit dull after the umpteenth time Zeus or another god seduced a nymph, a princess, or another stunningly beautiful woman, for which his wife Hera took revenge. The subtitle of this book states that the Waterfields have "vividly retold” it all, and I have to make a reservation about that. All in all, I found this a rather dry retelling, with little embellishment, and the authors limit themselves to an associative chain of stories, without many transitions. Of course, they are unfortunate that master storyteller Stephen Fry has now tackled the same material with his Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold, Heroes: Mortals and Monsters, Quests and Adventures, Troy, and Odyssey. In his own way, Fry has created a much more lively version (see my review here).
I also don't quite understand why they also included a retelling of the Iliad and the Odyssey, because in my view, those aren't really myths (although divine interventions do occur in these stories). On the other hand, they offer a very good reading guide for those who want to delve deeper into the subject.
Finally, there's also something to be said about their methodology (although that applies to all retellings of Greek myths, including Fry's). But I will discuss this in my review in my History account: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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September 7, 2025In their outro, Robin and Kathryn Waterfield state: “On the whole, (…) in this book we have stuck to the earliest extant versions of the stories (starting with Homer in the eighth century BCE), and have used later authors (such as the Roman poet Ovid, a brilliant storyteller from the beginning of the first century CE) sparingly and with caution.” They also add that the most important source for them was the work of the (so-called) pseudo-Appolodorus, probably not written down until the 2nd century CE. I don’t know if it’s starting to dawn on you, but when you consider that Homer (probably) lived in the 8th century BCE, and pseudo-Appolodorus (I know, a strange name, look him up) possibly only 1,000 years later, then perhaps a problem begins to arise. And if you then add that a large number of the mythical stories in Ancient Greece almost certainly circulated long before Homer, in the so-called oral tradition, then that problem becomes even greater.
What I mean is that the body of Greek myths was a very complex and, above all, very lively cultural entity. It "lived" across a large geographical area with perhaps an overarching Hellenic identity, but also very distinct regional characteristics. And —above all—it continued to live on and express itself in various (oral and written) forms over a period of a millennium and a half (roughly from the 10th century BCE to at least the 2nd century CE, and perhaps even later). Versions were regularly written down that reflected the characteristics of that particular time and place.
It is therefore not surprising that quite a few variations of the same Greek stories have come down to us. I always have to raise my eyebrows when I read a modern retelling of the Greek myths that gives the impression of offering a coherent whole, as if it were "canonized" at some point, to use a scholarly term (which also applies to the Bible, for example). No, on the contrary, virtually every Greek myth has several variants that differ from each other, usually in detail, but sometimes also in essence. This is most evident when you compare different editions of retellings, as I did with this one by the Waterfields, but also the recently enormously popular version by Stephen Fry (Mythos and Heroes).
To be clear: Robin and Kathryn (and also Fry) clearly indicate that there are indeed multiple sources and therefore also different versions (see the quote I started this review with). But, like every reteller, they ultimately made a choice. I won't pass judgment on their precise choice; I'm not at all qualified do so. But perhaps it is best that the fascinated reader is well aware of the enormous diversity that lies behind these apparently unambiguous stories. And, consequentely, of the enormous methodological issues this implies.
What I mean is that the body of Greek myths was a very complex and, above all, very lively cultural entity. It "lived" across a large geographical area with perhaps an overarching Hellenic identity, but also very distinct regional characteristics. And —above all—it continued to live on and express itself in various (oral and written) forms over a period of a millennium and a half (roughly from the 10th century BCE to at least the 2nd century CE, and perhaps even later). Versions were regularly written down that reflected the characteristics of that particular time and place.
It is therefore not surprising that quite a few variations of the same Greek stories have come down to us. I always have to raise my eyebrows when I read a modern retelling of the Greek myths that gives the impression of offering a coherent whole, as if it were "canonized" at some point, to use a scholarly term (which also applies to the Bible, for example). No, on the contrary, virtually every Greek myth has several variants that differ from each other, usually in detail, but sometimes also in essence. This is most evident when you compare different editions of retellings, as I did with this one by the Waterfields, but also the recently enormously popular version by Stephen Fry (Mythos and Heroes).
To be clear: Robin and Kathryn (and also Fry) clearly indicate that there are indeed multiple sources and therefore also different versions (see the quote I started this review with). But, like every reteller, they ultimately made a choice. I won't pass judgment on their precise choice; I'm not at all qualified do so. But perhaps it is best that the fascinated reader is well aware of the enormous diversity that lies behind these apparently unambiguous stories. And, consequentely, of the enormous methodological issues this implies.
March 11, 2015
Upon finally completing this book, I can wholly say that I have mixed feelings about this.
One point I would just like to throw out there is that I felt like reading this took me a very long time, so that is saying something in itself. I obviously was just not feeling entirely compelled to pick this up at every oportunity I had.
The main issue that I found with this book, and probably the cause for the book to miss out on 2 stars, was that it was extremely biblical in the way it was written. ''Come all ye muses'' is a loose example of what I mean, where I felt like the writers were trying to transport me to the times, which would have been cool if it had not have been in such a preachy way. There are a ton more examples that I cannot be bothered to find again. This aspect made me feel like it was a bit biased in the descriptions of the gods and the accounts of heroes, which would have been fine in a regular fiction book, but because this gives the lure of a somewhat factual account in the content it provides, that was not acceptable.
The second and last MAIN flaw, and the last I'll mention, is I feel like somethings were misreported or spelled. The first example of this would be that Cronus is spelled differently to how I usually see it 'Kronus'. But in saying that, my only other point of reference would be from the Percy Jackson books, and let's be honest, they're complete works of fiction! This then could just be a different way of spelling it, that years of translation has altered. The second example is ''The Caucasin Mountains''... Lol, what? (Okay, I will admit I thought it said Caucasian, as in white, for the longest time xD)
I searched this up & all I got was ''The Caucasus Mountains''. So maybe this is an actual error, or it could be that it was once named differently.
The points I liked about this book is that it's writing was packed full of descriptions that were vivid. It included a lot of wondrous works of arts (which were sometimes featured on irrelevant pages). It definitely provides a detailed retelling, if somewhat biased, of the most famous Greek Myths. The biblical aspect comes to play once again, but as a strong point, because it gave a lot of power to the end. If there is one thing I have learned from reading this, it is that you should learn from other's mistakes.. If someone has angered the gods in one way, don't try it and hope to gain some sort of satisfaction. (my example being both Lycaon and Tantalus trying to test the gods by serving them human flesh).
Pick it up, give it a go and enjoy! ^_^
Gén
One point I would just like to throw out there is that I felt like reading this took me a very long time, so that is saying something in itself. I obviously was just not feeling entirely compelled to pick this up at every oportunity I had.
The main issue that I found with this book, and probably the cause for the book to miss out on 2 stars, was that it was extremely biblical in the way it was written. ''Come all ye muses'' is a loose example of what I mean, where I felt like the writers were trying to transport me to the times, which would have been cool if it had not have been in such a preachy way. There are a ton more examples that I cannot be bothered to find again. This aspect made me feel like it was a bit biased in the descriptions of the gods and the accounts of heroes, which would have been fine in a regular fiction book, but because this gives the lure of a somewhat factual account in the content it provides, that was not acceptable.
The second and last MAIN flaw, and the last I'll mention, is I feel like somethings were misreported or spelled. The first example of this would be that Cronus is spelled differently to how I usually see it 'Kronus'. But in saying that, my only other point of reference would be from the Percy Jackson books, and let's be honest, they're complete works of fiction! This then could just be a different way of spelling it, that years of translation has altered. The second example is ''The Caucasin Mountains''... Lol, what? (Okay, I will admit I thought it said Caucasian, as in white, for the longest time xD)
I searched this up & all I got was ''The Caucasus Mountains''. So maybe this is an actual error, or it could be that it was once named differently.
The points I liked about this book is that it's writing was packed full of descriptions that were vivid. It included a lot of wondrous works of arts (which were sometimes featured on irrelevant pages). It definitely provides a detailed retelling, if somewhat biased, of the most famous Greek Myths. The biblical aspect comes to play once again, but as a strong point, because it gave a lot of power to the end. If there is one thing I have learned from reading this, it is that you should learn from other's mistakes.. If someone has angered the gods in one way, don't try it and hope to gain some sort of satisfaction. (my example being both Lycaon and Tantalus trying to test the gods by serving them human flesh).
Pick it up, give it a go and enjoy! ^_^
Gén
November 12, 2018
I don't believe I need to get very long winded on this book, as some other readers have done a fine job of describing my exact feelings. Oddness. This book just did not "feel" right as I read it. It would be like reading a medical journal or historical book written in haiku. Perhaps I am being extreme in saying that, but I surely felt that way as I struggled through the stories.
I really am a fan of the Greek myths, and was looking forward to a nice retelling that would appease the modern reader. This failed in my mind. Perhaps the old school way of reading mythology is the best. Or perhaps I'm not that modern.
I did not enjoy this, but feel a 1 Star would be too harsh. I'm going to grade this like a restaurant's meatloaf that looked good on the menu. It's not fair to compare it my Mom's awesome meatloaf and make disparaging remarks when it does not live up to the looks. Others may not have been blessed with mothers that made a fine meatloaf and find this restaurant's efforts to be wonderful. Thus, I will be kind and make this book a 2 Star (via rounding), out of respect for the effort, and not criticize folks who thought this book was terrific. Better books on Greek mythology exists folks, so don't settle.
1.5 Stars, rounded up.
I really am a fan of the Greek myths, and was looking forward to a nice retelling that would appease the modern reader. This failed in my mind. Perhaps the old school way of reading mythology is the best. Or perhaps I'm not that modern.
I did not enjoy this, but feel a 1 Star would be too harsh. I'm going to grade this like a restaurant's meatloaf that looked good on the menu. It's not fair to compare it my Mom's awesome meatloaf and make disparaging remarks when it does not live up to the looks. Others may not have been blessed with mothers that made a fine meatloaf and find this restaurant's efforts to be wonderful. Thus, I will be kind and make this book a 2 Star (via rounding), out of respect for the effort, and not criticize folks who thought this book was terrific. Better books on Greek mythology exists folks, so don't settle.
1.5 Stars, rounded up.
May 19, 2015
I obviously loved it and I have trouble to understand how you could not adore it. My girlfriend gave me this book on Christmas since I cried over it everytime we passed in front of it in the bookstore and I couldn't be happier or grateful. I always wanted a beautiful, nicely illustrated and well put book on Greek Mythology but I could never find one satisfying. It was always for children or too indigest! But this ones was just perfect and so damn useful! It's clear and easily understandable with everything you need to know and more! It instantly became one of my favourite books and I'm re-reading it again now! So if you're interested in mythology you NEED it trust me! To agapimeno mou!
March 9, 2018
Just very boring. I was hoping to learn more about Greek mythology and I did but I didn't enjoy it. I found there were way too many names introduced without any explanation of who they are. it was confusing and dull.
February 13, 2021
Coffee table book with glossy photos of statues and reliefs, about the Greek gods. Frankly, I would have enjoyed a better literary treatment and could have been spared the pictures. I suppose I can leave it in the parlor to impress visitors.
September 28, 2014
The Greek Myths by Robin Waterfield and Kathryn Waterfield presents the tales from Greek mythology as one story, told in clear, flowing prose, which is why I found it interesting and enjoyable to read. It begins, conveniently, with the tale of the creation and ends with the tale of Pandora and the box. Some of what I read was entirely new to me, which was stimulating, and some of it was familiar, like the tale of Jason and the Golden Fleece, Theseus and the Minotaur and Perseus and Andromeda. It seemed to me, while reading the book, to my amusement, that the ancient Greeks did not look to their gods and goddesses for moral guidance, for all of them, particularly Zeus, were governed by jealousy, arrogance, anger and lust, and saw mortals merely as players in the drama they watched over on Earth. Reading the tales about the heroes, like Jason, Heracles and Achilles, I wondered just how much they could be considered heroic at all, considering the number of times the gods and goddesses of Olympus interfered with their lives. I came to the conclusion that what is now called mythology is largely the invention of the poets and storytellers of the ancient world. To the priests and priestesses and the ordinary people who made their offerings to the gods and goddesses in the temples perhaps Zeus was the thunderer, the father of the gods, alone, just as Aphrodite was the goddess of love and Athena the goddess of wisdom. It was the poets and storytellers who invented what are now called the mythological tales about them.
I enjoyed reading the chapter called The Trojan War, for it was a clear, condensed version of the events Homer describes in The Iliad, as I did the chapter called Odysseus' Return, which tells in the same way the tale Homer relates in The Odyssey. The Greek Myths is a book worth reading by those who are interested in mythology and legends, however much or little they know about the works of Homer and other poets of the ancient world.
I enjoyed reading the chapter called The Trojan War, for it was a clear, condensed version of the events Homer describes in The Iliad, as I did the chapter called Odysseus' Return, which tells in the same way the tale Homer relates in The Odyssey. The Greek Myths is a book worth reading by those who are interested in mythology and legends, however much or little they know about the works of Homer and other poets of the ancient world.
March 9, 2020
I struggled to finish this book. I started it with the hope of learning more about Greek mythology since it's always been intriguing to me, but I didn't learn that much. It was too chaotic in there, too many names thrown in without explanations that they got me confused and eventually felt like I was just wasting time and moved on to the next book.
February 9, 2021
★★★½
While the book is well written and I enjoyed reading the myths (Theseus and Heracles especially), I struggled to keep track of all the hard to pronounce names and sudden introductions of new people. If I took the time to do more research into each person that was mentioned, I may find the tales easier to understand.
While the book is well written and I enjoyed reading the myths (Theseus and Heracles especially), I struggled to keep track of all the hard to pronounce names and sudden introductions of new people. If I took the time to do more research into each person that was mentioned, I may find the tales easier to understand.
June 27, 2015
Read this really slowly because I wanted to savour it. It's such a good read, well written, and fantastically vivid in detail.
March 6, 2017
This was a good book, and a solid introduction to Greek mythology.
Beginning with the population of the Earth and Prometheus' gift, Waterfield sweeps through many of the stories of the gods and heroes in chronological order, including good recaps of The Iliad and The Odyssey. The book was well put together, making a topic which may seem overwhelming and complicated easy to understand. This book isn't really suitable for people who want to read the full stories and gain some details, but it is good if a quick journey is what you're after, as either an introduction or a refresher in the key Greek myths.
Note: my review is based on the paperback reprint of this book. There is also a large, well illustrated coffee-table style edition of this book, which I have not read (which is a shame, because I bet that version is lovely to look at).
Beginning with the population of the Earth and Prometheus' gift, Waterfield sweeps through many of the stories of the gods and heroes in chronological order, including good recaps of The Iliad and The Odyssey. The book was well put together, making a topic which may seem overwhelming and complicated easy to understand. This book isn't really suitable for people who want to read the full stories and gain some details, but it is good if a quick journey is what you're after, as either an introduction or a refresher in the key Greek myths.
Note: my review is based on the paperback reprint of this book. There is also a large, well illustrated coffee-table style edition of this book, which I have not read (which is a shame, because I bet that version is lovely to look at).
May 7, 2017
A book of sub-300 pages shouldn't've taken over 2 weeks to read. Unfortunately this one did.
The stories themselves were fascinating; the labours of Heracles, brave Theseus challenging the Minotaur, the epic Trojan War. The problem was with the writing which was pretentious and, frankly, odd. Phrases like "Come all ye muses tell us the story of..." just came across as try-hard. The Author(s) clearly know their stuff, but their writing was abject.
The stories themselves were fascinating; the labours of Heracles, brave Theseus challenging the Minotaur, the epic Trojan War. The problem was with the writing which was pretentious and, frankly, odd. Phrases like "Come all ye muses tell us the story of..." just came across as try-hard. The Author(s) clearly know their stuff, but their writing was abject.
June 3, 2017
Didn't find it "highly readable" at all. Struggled through this book and I love myths and legends! Some of the stories were good, but many skipped along, throwing names and countries around, making it hard to concentrate on what was actually going on. Wasn't too fond of the "Speak to me, Muse" bits in the stories of the gods, either. Bit over done.
All in all, it's an ok read, but it's not this clear , modernised re-telling the cover sold it as. Sorry.
All in all, it's an ok read, but it's not this clear , modernised re-telling the cover sold it as. Sorry.
October 27, 2018
It took me a while to read this because after reading 50 or so pages I got bored every time and craved something else. So I took lots of breaks and then didn't pick it up for a while. I did enjoy it though, the writing style sometimes just reminded me of reading a Wikipedia article.
What I liked was that most of the myths are told in this book. They aren't very detailed or in-depth, but now I know a lot more about all the myths; Circe, the Trojan war, the Minotaur, Odysseus, and more and more. I learned a lot and liked the book but it could have been written a little more entertaining.
What I liked was that most of the myths are told in this book. They aren't very detailed or in-depth, but now I know a lot more about all the myths; Circe, the Trojan war, the Minotaur, Odysseus, and more and more. I learned a lot and liked the book but it could have been written a little more entertaining.
January 21, 2025
Just a great retelling of many myths that encompass the Greek mythos as a whole. The book kept getting better and better as it progressed. I love the style of it with how it explains every major event and character and god in small digestible mini chapters. Just amazing to read was a struggle to put it down. Is it the best book ever? No, is it pretty good at what it does, yes. Was it enjoyable to learn and immerse myself into greek mythology once more? Yes, yes it was
September 16, 2025
Confusing esoteric retellings of classic mythology which relegated them to mere adult-rated nursery rhymes. Gains a star for the three latter chapters but the first half is pretentious drivel. Generally very hard to follow what is going on as the pacing is inconsistent and the frequency of context-less character introductions is ludicrously excessive.
March 18, 2024
pretty good compared to other greek mythology books that ive read
October 15, 2025
Not sure if it came during my reading slump or caused it. Started well but found it more and more dull as it went on.
September 13, 2024
Solid retelling.
July 28, 2021
Why are we born, only to suffer and die?
(…) When Prometheus ensured the survival and continuation of the human race by stealing fire from heaven, he knew (…)the obstacles and difficulties that the gods would place in the way of human life—but he also knew that it was only in the fire of transcending these obstacles that we humans could purge the dross from our souls and, perhaps, emerge as heroes ourselves.”
It eludes me why some people believe Greek myths are outdated, considering there’s no need to look that far to find an allusion to Greek mythology in everyday life.
In Literature, we have Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus, Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot, J. K. Rowling’s Hermione or Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson, to name a few. In modern medicine and technology, we could mention the rod of Asclepius or the Apollo program. Art (namely the Renaissance period), sports (particularly the Olympic Games), modern multinational corporations (Nike, Starbucks) and even modern language (Achilles’ heel, Pandora’s box, the apple of discord) have all been influenced by ancient Greek myths.
Needless to say, they’re still relevant today.
Having said that, you might notice why it would be a good use of your time to read about this topic. Here comes this book, which is a wonderful introduction to Greek mythology: it covers the age of titans, the rise of the Olympian gods and the age of heroes such as Heracles, Perseus and Jason, as well as major events like the Trojan war or the return of Odysseus to Ithaca.
Now, my main trouble with this book was the section of the gods, where some important details where just briefly mention while other content was given much more space than it deserved. The writing style may be an issue for some readers too, although one gets used to it after a while. The pace varies from section to section, but these are not entirely dependent on each other, so you don’t need to read them in chronological order: you could jump backwards or forwards to the parts you're familiar with or the ones you're most intrigued by and read the rest later.
Overall, I’d say this book serves as a great overview of Greek mythology as a whole, in addition to be a great map and compass that will help you decide which areas you could further explore, which direction you should take next. Furthermore, it has both an educational and entertainment value.
So whether you’re a Greek mythology passionate; a Game of Thrones fan who has just finished watching the series and needs another dose of epicness, backstabbery, betrayal and scandal; a Starbucks lover puzzled by the obscure relationship between sirens and cappuccinos; or a wine or theater enthusiast who wants to give a toast to Dionysus, you’ll find what your heart desires in this book.
-----------------------------------------
My rating: 3.5 ---> there were several aspects I particularly enjoyed, I’d recommend it
Recommended Greek-inspired playlist (yes, I listened to it while reading this book).
Rating system (from 2021 onwards)
1: I didn’t like a single thing about this book
1.5: minor positive aspects were enormously outweighed by the negative ones
2: positive features were outweighed by the negative ones
2.5: not bad, but not outstanding either
3: it had some elements that I enjoyed
3.5: there were several aspects I particularly enjoyed, I’d recommend it
4: absolutely remarkable, I highly recommend it
4.5: one of a kind. This book is really something
5: favorite of all times, educational, entertaining and well-written
(…) When Prometheus ensured the survival and continuation of the human race by stealing fire from heaven, he knew (…)the obstacles and difficulties that the gods would place in the way of human life—but he also knew that it was only in the fire of transcending these obstacles that we humans could purge the dross from our souls and, perhaps, emerge as heroes ourselves.”
It eludes me why some people believe Greek myths are outdated, considering there’s no need to look that far to find an allusion to Greek mythology in everyday life.
In Literature, we have Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus, Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot, J. K. Rowling’s Hermione or Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson, to name a few. In modern medicine and technology, we could mention the rod of Asclepius or the Apollo program. Art (namely the Renaissance period), sports (particularly the Olympic Games), modern multinational corporations (Nike, Starbucks) and even modern language (Achilles’ heel, Pandora’s box, the apple of discord) have all been influenced by ancient Greek myths.
Needless to say, they’re still relevant today.
Having said that, you might notice why it would be a good use of your time to read about this topic. Here comes this book, which is a wonderful introduction to Greek mythology: it covers the age of titans, the rise of the Olympian gods and the age of heroes such as Heracles, Perseus and Jason, as well as major events like the Trojan war or the return of Odysseus to Ithaca.
Now, my main trouble with this book was the section of the gods, where some important details where just briefly mention while other content was given much more space than it deserved. The writing style may be an issue for some readers too, although one gets used to it after a while. The pace varies from section to section, but these are not entirely dependent on each other, so you don’t need to read them in chronological order: you could jump backwards or forwards to the parts you're familiar with or the ones you're most intrigued by and read the rest later.
Overall, I’d say this book serves as a great overview of Greek mythology as a whole, in addition to be a great map and compass that will help you decide which areas you could further explore, which direction you should take next. Furthermore, it has both an educational and entertainment value.
So whether you’re a Greek mythology passionate; a Game of Thrones fan who has just finished watching the series and needs another dose of epicness, backstabbery, betrayal and scandal; a Starbucks lover puzzled by the obscure relationship between sirens and cappuccinos; or a wine or theater enthusiast who wants to give a toast to Dionysus, you’ll find what your heart desires in this book.
-----------------------------------------
My rating: 3.5 ---> there were several aspects I particularly enjoyed, I’d recommend it
Recommended Greek-inspired playlist (yes, I listened to it while reading this book).
Rating system (from 2021 onwards)
1: I didn’t like a single thing about this book
1.5: minor positive aspects were enormously outweighed by the negative ones
2: positive features were outweighed by the negative ones
2.5: not bad, but not outstanding either
3: it had some elements that I enjoyed
3.5: there were several aspects I particularly enjoyed, I’d recommend it
4: absolutely remarkable, I highly recommend it
4.5: one of a kind. This book is really something
5: favorite of all times, educational, entertaining and well-written
January 25, 2024
I must say, my feelings about this book are a bit mixed. Some parts were really interesting to learn about and some of the stories, very captivating. Though, there were quite a few parts in which I feel the stories were not that fleshed out and lacked a bit of emotion. Some almost felt as if I had read a summary with only three or so pages, leaving me with nothing really memorable. Though, to be fair, I'm sure there is a great deal of things the author wanted to cover in this book while still making it fairly short and not too overwhelming. That being said, I thought the last half was way better than the first half, and I quite enjoyed some of the longer, more fleshed out tales. However, part of me wonders if maybe it had to do more with the actual myths being fascinating than the quality of the writing of the book. Maybe I will have better defined opinions about it after I read another book on Greek myth. Though, for right now, I didn't love this book, but I didn't hate it. In fact, I'm glad I read it. I'm just not sure right now whether I'd mark this as the go-to for a start at learning about Greek myth or if there is one that does a better job at what this one sets out for.
I must say, however, he did end this book on quite the note, and the last two or so pages were a really interesting and neat way to end it. So bravo to him for that!
I must say, however, he did end this book on quite the note, and the last two or so pages were a really interesting and neat way to end it. So bravo to him for that!
March 2, 2021
i have read gorgeous versions of the greek myths, both online and in my special favourite mythology book 'myths and legends' by anthony horrowitz. but there was something about this retelling of myths which didn't really capture my imagination or even my attention.
i think the problems really lay in the writing style; whilst horrowitz intentions were to add a funny, sometimes modern element to the myths, this gave a fairly standard, stark retelling with the occasional joke kind of shoe-horned in. i understand the need for proper, well researched and academic versions of the greek myths but it seemed that the waterfields couldn't quite decide whether they were gonna be boring or funny or traditional or what.
also, i bought the book off of amazon where it promised 'beautiful illustrations' - if you're looking for a pretty and illustrated edition, this is not for you. two pages of colour photos were included in the middle, all pieces of artwork by various artists over time; admittedly beautiful but not what i would describe as illustrations.
i'm a little disappointed. i was looking for a cheap and cheerful version of the myths which could rival my love for horrowitz retelling which I read all the way back in 2014. i guess my search continues...
i think the problems really lay in the writing style; whilst horrowitz intentions were to add a funny, sometimes modern element to the myths, this gave a fairly standard, stark retelling with the occasional joke kind of shoe-horned in. i understand the need for proper, well researched and academic versions of the greek myths but it seemed that the waterfields couldn't quite decide whether they were gonna be boring or funny or traditional or what.
also, i bought the book off of amazon where it promised 'beautiful illustrations' - if you're looking for a pretty and illustrated edition, this is not for you. two pages of colour photos were included in the middle, all pieces of artwork by various artists over time; admittedly beautiful but not what i would describe as illustrations.
i'm a little disappointed. i was looking for a cheap and cheerful version of the myths which could rival my love for horrowitz retelling which I read all the way back in 2014. i guess my search continues...
January 21, 2022
This is an accessible overview for anyone looking to get a handle on the basics of Greek mythology. Waterfield never gets bogged down in the details in a way that might put off a casual reader and the tales are presented in more or less chronological order. The stories are also illustrated with a selection of classical art that I enjoyed. It'll only take you a couple of days to glean the basics of the stories that kick-started European literature. What have you got to lose?
PS: His overview of the story of Odysseus might be helpful for any of those trying to work their way through Ulysses for the first time.
PS: His overview of the story of Odysseus might be helpful for any of those trying to work their way through Ulysses for the first time.
September 3, 2017
I don't know why I picked this book up except I really believed for a moment that I needed a refresher on the Greek myths. But this book was a welcome reminder that in the Grecian mythical realm, there's only fuck and fuck ups to look forward to. I eventually tuned off (too many names spoil the broth and all that jazz), and just read on for the sake of finishing the book.
** never pick up another book if the book that you're dying to read is arriving the very next day. It's like one of those romantic bad rebounds. So good but oh god so SO bad! **
** never pick up another book if the book that you're dying to read is arriving the very next day. It's like one of those romantic bad rebounds. So good but oh god so SO bad! **
February 13, 2012
This book is a retelling of the traditional Greek myths and legends. Many Greek myths have many different versions.
I enjoyed reading the story of Prometheus giving fire, life, and civilization to mankind.
I enjoyed reading about the war against the giants and about Zeus, Hera, Aphrodite, Apollo, Athena, and Dionysus.
I also enjoyed reading about Heracles and Odysseus.
This book has wonderful pictures and maps.
I enjoyed reading the story of Prometheus giving fire, life, and civilization to mankind.
I enjoyed reading about the war against the giants and about Zeus, Hera, Aphrodite, Apollo, Athena, and Dionysus.
I also enjoyed reading about Heracles and Odysseus.
This book has wonderful pictures and maps.
December 16, 2014
I picked this to read with my daughter - she can't get enough of the Greek myths but it's written so fancifully, with very flowery language, that it's hard work to get through. Plus I didn't realise that it has so much sex in it that I keep having to tailor it for my daughter's ears! Not a problem generally, but strictly for adults!
May 11, 2016
It is undoubtedly one of the most interesting works about Greek mythology. Well-narrated in a cohesive manner, the stories surely leave reader wanting for more. Loved it!
May 27, 2021
An amazingly evocative and eloquent introduction to the stories of Greek mythology. What is doubly impressive is that the writers also manage to make the book quite comprehensive: the only story that I can think of which was omitted was that of Narcissus and Echo. Every other myth that I am familiar with was covered, even if for some it was only a paragraph or so, and rest assured that the more important myths (such as the Labours of Heracles, the Trojan War and the Odyssey) are given their own lengthy chapters.
It is remarkable that Robin and Kathryn Waterfield managed to fit in all these stories into such a small book: The Greek Myths, in my paperback edition at least, clocks in at just under 300 pages. Basically, if you have an interest in Greek mythology you'll gorge yourself on this, even if sometimes you can be overwhelmed by all the names and the family ties. I've loved these stories since I was very young; the Usborne Illustrated Guide to Greek Myths and Legends was one of my most cherished possessions as a kid, and its illustrations are still my go-to reference point when imagining the heroes and the mythical beasts. Even so, there were still some things which came as a surprise to me. As a kid, I somehow always seemed to miss the bestiality element of the Minotaur story (see Pasiphae on page 125 of the Waterfields' book) and if I ever knew Heracles went around dressed as a woman (pages 162 and 165) I'd since forgotten it. The Waterfields present to us a warts-and-all retelling of the myths, and don't shy away from awkward stuff like the lower-class status of women and some of the heroes' more morally-suspect acts of violence. But, though disturbing, your brain sanitises it and accepts it as part of the story much as it would the gruesomeness of a Brothers Grimm story.
Aside from just providing an extremely readable account of the Greek myths, the Waterfields also gently introduce into the prose some analysis of the meaning behind the stories. As they mention in their Introduction, often these stories were meant as education as well as entertainment. Whilst the main moral of the Greek myths as a whole seems to be "don't mess with the gods", the Waterfields also convincingly suggest in their final chapter a much more life-affirming message which deserves to be read in their own words rather than summarised in this review.
But in the same lines, the Waterfields also remind us of something which, as I've grown older, I've come to find very interesting: in many ways, the Olympian gods are the bad guys. Maybe not villains as such, but they are often petty, jealous and fickle, and manipulate mortals for their own amusement. As the writers point out, it is Prometheus the Titan who is benevolent and paternal towards humankind; the Olympians do their best to ensure mortals are dependent on them. This is why they were so angry that Prometheus gave man the gift of fire.
It is this often-adversarial relationship which I find most stimulating nowadays, though I of course still enjoy the stories simply for the adventure. It adds a whole new level of enjoyment for me - a satisfaction which the Waterfields are completely successful in fostering. It is why I find the Greek myths more endearing than, say, the Biblical myths. Note, for example, the role of Prometheus and Epimetheus in the creation of mankind (page 3). In contrast to the Biblical myth of Adam and Eve, in which man is created in God's own image, Epimetheus creates human beings as a 'foolish mistake'; they are in essence just a leftover lump of clay with no way of surviving in the harsh world until Prometheus chooses to nurture them. The gods are indifferent, and often antagonistic; humans are, to them, alternately a pest or a threat to their own dominance. It is this lack of hubris on the part of the ancient Greeks who first wrote these stories which I find very commendable; they didn't see themselves as God's chosen ones like the later Abrahamic religions did. Even though some of the Greek myths can be silly at times, we could learn a lesson in humility from these stories.
For this reason and for many others, the Greek myths have retained their relevance and influence throughout human history. Along with the Bible and the works of William Shakespeare, they are the dominant reference point for art and culture, and indeed were a major influence on both the Bard and the Bible's scribes. They are immensely important and immensely exciting, and the Waterfields have provided a book which impresses both the importance and the excitement of the stories on the reader. The book is eloquent, comprehensive and clearly written by two people with great love for their subject matter. For those looking to dip their toe into the rich waters of Greek mythology, I can hardly conceive of a more perfect book than this.
It is remarkable that Robin and Kathryn Waterfield managed to fit in all these stories into such a small book: The Greek Myths, in my paperback edition at least, clocks in at just under 300 pages. Basically, if you have an interest in Greek mythology you'll gorge yourself on this, even if sometimes you can be overwhelmed by all the names and the family ties. I've loved these stories since I was very young; the Usborne Illustrated Guide to Greek Myths and Legends was one of my most cherished possessions as a kid, and its illustrations are still my go-to reference point when imagining the heroes and the mythical beasts. Even so, there were still some things which came as a surprise to me. As a kid, I somehow always seemed to miss the bestiality element of the Minotaur story (see Pasiphae on page 125 of the Waterfields' book) and if I ever knew Heracles went around dressed as a woman (pages 162 and 165) I'd since forgotten it. The Waterfields present to us a warts-and-all retelling of the myths, and don't shy away from awkward stuff like the lower-class status of women and some of the heroes' more morally-suspect acts of violence. But, though disturbing, your brain sanitises it and accepts it as part of the story much as it would the gruesomeness of a Brothers Grimm story.
Aside from just providing an extremely readable account of the Greek myths, the Waterfields also gently introduce into the prose some analysis of the meaning behind the stories. As they mention in their Introduction, often these stories were meant as education as well as entertainment. Whilst the main moral of the Greek myths as a whole seems to be "don't mess with the gods", the Waterfields also convincingly suggest in their final chapter a much more life-affirming message which deserves to be read in their own words rather than summarised in this review.
But in the same lines, the Waterfields also remind us of something which, as I've grown older, I've come to find very interesting: in many ways, the Olympian gods are the bad guys. Maybe not villains as such, but they are often petty, jealous and fickle, and manipulate mortals for their own amusement. As the writers point out, it is Prometheus the Titan who is benevolent and paternal towards humankind; the Olympians do their best to ensure mortals are dependent on them. This is why they were so angry that Prometheus gave man the gift of fire.
It is this often-adversarial relationship which I find most stimulating nowadays, though I of course still enjoy the stories simply for the adventure. It adds a whole new level of enjoyment for me - a satisfaction which the Waterfields are completely successful in fostering. It is why I find the Greek myths more endearing than, say, the Biblical myths. Note, for example, the role of Prometheus and Epimetheus in the creation of mankind (page 3). In contrast to the Biblical myth of Adam and Eve, in which man is created in God's own image, Epimetheus creates human beings as a 'foolish mistake'; they are in essence just a leftover lump of clay with no way of surviving in the harsh world until Prometheus chooses to nurture them. The gods are indifferent, and often antagonistic; humans are, to them, alternately a pest or a threat to their own dominance. It is this lack of hubris on the part of the ancient Greeks who first wrote these stories which I find very commendable; they didn't see themselves as God's chosen ones like the later Abrahamic religions did. Even though some of the Greek myths can be silly at times, we could learn a lesson in humility from these stories.
For this reason and for many others, the Greek myths have retained their relevance and influence throughout human history. Along with the Bible and the works of William Shakespeare, they are the dominant reference point for art and culture, and indeed were a major influence on both the Bard and the Bible's scribes. They are immensely important and immensely exciting, and the Waterfields have provided a book which impresses both the importance and the excitement of the stories on the reader. The book is eloquent, comprehensive and clearly written by two people with great love for their subject matter. For those looking to dip their toe into the rich waters of Greek mythology, I can hardly conceive of a more perfect book than this.
November 8, 2024
Full of great information, loved the inclusion of ancient and otherwise historical illustration, but the framing and general tone are distractingly weird. The whole thing felt like reading an encyclopedia that inexplicably has a narrator. It just doesn't walk the line between factual historical reporting and retelling well at all - I think the authors were told to make it a retelling in order to cash in on the trend of retellings, when a light reference book would have made more sense for the style.
Too much weight is given to imagined conversations (why on earth does Achilles quote Neil Young?), not enough is given to explaining what's going on. This adds to how commercially safe the whole thing feels - the modern aspect is reserved for the conversations and the attempt to put All Myths into a narrative, but Achilles and Patroclus were just good friends, and the women are just bitches (we get to read info boxes about who the three great tragedians were, and nothing about who wasn't allowed to attend theatre).
On the narrative note, there's both too much detail and not enough. There's an attempt to include absolutely everything about the huge number of stories the book chronicles, and there's just not enough pages to do that justice. The amount of time spent telling us every name of every peripheral character is one thing when actually reading the Iliad - doing the same thing when retelling both Homeric epics, multiple plays, and Ovid's Metamorphoses? Unreadable. Learn to cut things or write an encyclopedia.
Too much weight is given to imagined conversations (why on earth does Achilles quote Neil Young?), not enough is given to explaining what's going on. This adds to how commercially safe the whole thing feels - the modern aspect is reserved for the conversations and the attempt to put All Myths into a narrative, but Achilles and Patroclus were just good friends, and the women are just bitches (we get to read info boxes about who the three great tragedians were, and nothing about who wasn't allowed to attend theatre).
On the narrative note, there's both too much detail and not enough. There's an attempt to include absolutely everything about the huge number of stories the book chronicles, and there's just not enough pages to do that justice. The amount of time spent telling us every name of every peripheral character is one thing when actually reading the Iliad - doing the same thing when retelling both Homeric epics, multiple plays, and Ovid's Metamorphoses? Unreadable. Learn to cut things or write an encyclopedia.
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