Die Enzyklopädie der Mythologie

by Christopher A. Weidner

Genres: Mythology

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 1 out of 5]

I usually absolutely love lexicons and encyclopedias of folklore, religion and myth (actually, I generally adore fact filled reference manuals, period), and when I received Christopher A. Weidner's massive and lushly illustrated (with a multitude of interesting and evocative accompanying photographs) Die Enzyklopädie der Mythologie in the mail from Germany yesterday afternoon, I was indeed very much excited to start perusing the information provided (especially because the book features not only Greek/Roman, but also Norse/Germanic and Celtic mythology, and the Amazon Germany price of less than six Euros was or at least seemed at first a wonderful find, a true potential treasure).

However, I quickly realised that even though the information presented and provided is definitely interesting and for all intents and purposes well enough written and presented (and the many accompanying photographs, family trees and such a visually appealing compliment to the narrative, to the author's text) Die Enzyklopädie der Mythologie will only ever be a one star ranking for me, as there are absolutely NO bibliographical references featured whatsoever, and thus of course NO source materials, making Die Enzyklopädie der Mythologie not only absolutely and utterly useless for ANY AND ALL kind of supplemental research and further study, but also rendering it equally impossible to even remotely be able verify if Christopher A. Weidner’s presented information is indeed even correct, if there are potential errors present.

And furthermore, it is also and in my opinion, totally and yes just utterly academically suspect and dishonest for Christopher A. Weidner to not have included at the very least a short list of works cited and used at the back of Die Enzyklopädie der Mythologie, and equally problematic for him to not have featured any footnotes or endnotes whatsoever. For of course, the author must obviously have used source materials, books, online information,whatsoever for the information, for the mythologic details provided, and for him to not at all acknowledge this, that is to and for me basic and simple plagiarism, academic dishonesty (and thus, although I did I guess mildly enjoy the featured textual information on the three main European mythologies to a point, and might in fact even consider perusing and making use of Die Enzyklopädie der Mythologie on occasion for simple reading interest, academically speaking, this book is in my opinion completely unsuitable, unacceptable and as such, worth only one star at the most, and absolutely not in any way even remotely recommended). And yes, I am in fact majorly angry and livid (not to mention very disappointed), as the lack of any kind of a list of works cited in a basically fact-finding reference manual for adult readers (actually for any readers) is one of my most major and infuriating so-called pet peeves (a huge "yuck" factor).

[Pascale · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are interested in Greek mythology, the book is good. There are a lot of interesting things in the book. Not only about gods but also all creatures etc