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Atlas des constellations
Levez les yeux au ciel. Au-dessus de vous, s'étend un canevas constellé de petits points blancs, reliez-les un à un...
Surgissent alors les constellations, ces figures célestes nées de nos mythes, légendes, berceuses et contes de fées. Animaux merveilleux, créatures fabuleuses, dieux et déesses de la mythologie constellent nos nuits depuis des siècles.
Cet atlas céleste nous plonge dans l'univers onirique des constellations dont les origines sont aussi lointaines que les étoiles elles-mêmes.
Grande et petite ourse, Andromède, Le Bouvier, Cassiopée, Orion, Oiseau de paradis, Centaure... plus de quatre-vingts constellations à découvrir chez vous, que vos nuits soient sombres ou étoilées.
Surgissent alors les constellations, ces figures célestes nées de nos mythes, légendes, berceuses et contes de fées. Animaux merveilleux, créatures fabuleuses, dieux et déesses de la mythologie constellent nos nuits depuis des siècles.
Cet atlas céleste nous plonge dans l'univers onirique des constellations dont les origines sont aussi lointaines que les étoiles elles-mêmes.
Grande et petite ourse, Andromède, Le Bouvier, Cassiopée, Orion, Oiseau de paradis, Centaure... plus de quatre-vingts constellations à découvrir chez vous, que vos nuits soient sombres ou étoilées.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published October 30, 2014
43 people are currently reading
855 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
September 19, 2020
4.5 stars
I've always loved to watch the night sky and the stars sparkling here and there. But the only constellation I can recognize is Orion! I've always wanted to know more about them, and their stories. But, I don't know why - because the title is quite clear - I didn't think this book would tell the stories linked to the constellations. I thought it would be more sciency - and thank god it wasn't because I really had a hard time in the beginning, with words like "asterisms" that I didn't understand, even after they were explained (now I do, but it was gradual).
So, Stories in the Stars will do exactly what the title suggests: tell the reader what the constellations "mean", the tales they embody. It was really great to discover some of them - even if I couldn't recognise bêta or gamma stars! I loved that the author doesn't focus solely on Greek myths and mentions other cultures, that she tells about Lacaille and his scientific constellations, about an Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass interpretation of the constellations, about when and how we can see the stars - she doesn't do it for all of them, but it partly explains why the constellations can have different forms or meanings in the Northern and in the Southern hemisphere. I loved the way the author tells the tales: there are different formats - I think there's only one I wasn't clicking with. I also loved the tone used!
The only thing that "bothered" me: in ebook form, I couldn't really see the illustrations clearly, and that's quite sad because they seem really great!! I'll take a physical copy of the book anyway, so I'll get to see them clearly, but I was a bit frustrated!
So, it was a great book to learn more about the stories of each constellation! I'll read some sciency books later, when "asterisms" and "bêta stars" are fixed in my head!
I've always loved to watch the night sky and the stars sparkling here and there. But the only constellation I can recognize is Orion! I've always wanted to know more about them, and their stories. But, I don't know why - because the title is quite clear - I didn't think this book would tell the stories linked to the constellations. I thought it would be more sciency - and thank god it wasn't because I really had a hard time in the beginning, with words like "asterisms" that I didn't understand, even after they were explained (now I do, but it was gradual).
So, Stories in the Stars will do exactly what the title suggests: tell the reader what the constellations "mean", the tales they embody. It was really great to discover some of them - even if I couldn't recognise bêta or gamma stars! I loved that the author doesn't focus solely on Greek myths and mentions other cultures, that she tells about Lacaille and his scientific constellations, about an Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass interpretation of the constellations, about when and how we can see the stars - she doesn't do it for all of them, but it partly explains why the constellations can have different forms or meanings in the Northern and in the Southern hemisphere. I loved the way the author tells the tales: there are different formats - I think there's only one I wasn't clicking with. I also loved the tone used!
The only thing that "bothered" me: in ebook form, I couldn't really see the illustrations clearly, and that's quite sad because they seem really great!! I'll take a physical copy of the book anyway, so I'll get to see them clearly, but I was a bit frustrated!
So, it was a great book to learn more about the stories of each constellation! I'll read some sciency books later, when "asterisms" and "bêta stars" are fixed in my head!
December 8, 2015
If you are looking for a book on the constellations you will be extremely disappointed. In the next to the last page of the introduction the author states that.He claims to know the stories behind the constellations. This is only partially true. The illustrations are the only thing that I enjoyed about this book, and the publisher has some of the larger ones made useless by not providing fold out pages for them. The book is neither an atlas nor are the stories that good either.
August 22, 2024
¡Hermosa colección de historias sobre el cielo!
La mayoría de los libros del tipo Atlas del Cielo, de los que por mi profesión conozco unos cuantos, son en su mayoría aburridas y frías relaciones de objetos de espacio profundo, punteados aquí y allá por un dato astrofísico y a veces una referencia interesante a la mitología o la Historia.
Por eso cuando te encuentras con un par de personas que son capaces de compilar con ingenio, sensibilidad y por supuesto con conocimiento, una buena colección de datos e historias sobre las 88 constelaciones reconocidas por la Unión Astronómica Internacional, no puedes sino quedar admirado.
Me parece que el libro recibe aquí en GoodReads puntajes muy bajos y reseñas muy regulares para lo fantástico que lo encontré yo. Bueno, para gustos los colores, pero insisto, si de algo sirve mi recorrido profesional por la astronomía tal vez se animen a adquirirlo y leerlo.
Como mencioné arriba, el libro esta dividido en 88 capítulos cortos, acompañados de un número idéntico de ilustraciones, a cuál más hermosa. En cada capítulo sus autoras nos acercan de manera literaria a historias sobre las regiones en las que esta dividido el cielo y que hoy llamamos, oficialmente, constelaciones. Algunos capítulos son cuentos, uno es incluso un excitante guión de lo que podría ser el episodio de una serie de acción con personajes de la mitología; los más son ingeniosas síntesis de algunos de los mitos que pueblan el cielo y no solo de los mitos grecolatinos, sino también mitos de otros lugares del planeta.
El libro fácil de leer (aunque la letra es excesivamente pequeña debo decirlo) y se presta para un recorrido tranquilo y al ritmo deseado por todo el cielo.
Aunque no creo que haya sido su aspiración, no dudo que el trabajo de Hislop y Waldron (sus autoras) es digno de inscribirse en la larga tradición de libros sobre el cielo y sus personajes, desde Ptolomeo, pasando por Petrus Plancius, Johannes y Elisabetha Hevelius, hasta llegar a los clásicos de Lacaille y Blaeu. ¡Bravo por ellas!
Me quedo con esta hermosa cita de Carlyle:
La mayoría de los libros del tipo Atlas del Cielo, de los que por mi profesión conozco unos cuantos, son en su mayoría aburridas y frías relaciones de objetos de espacio profundo, punteados aquí y allá por un dato astrofísico y a veces una referencia interesante a la mitología o la Historia.
Por eso cuando te encuentras con un par de personas que son capaces de compilar con ingenio, sensibilidad y por supuesto con conocimiento, una buena colección de datos e historias sobre las 88 constelaciones reconocidas por la Unión Astronómica Internacional, no puedes sino quedar admirado.
Me parece que el libro recibe aquí en GoodReads puntajes muy bajos y reseñas muy regulares para lo fantástico que lo encontré yo. Bueno, para gustos los colores, pero insisto, si de algo sirve mi recorrido profesional por la astronomía tal vez se animen a adquirirlo y leerlo.
Como mencioné arriba, el libro esta dividido en 88 capítulos cortos, acompañados de un número idéntico de ilustraciones, a cuál más hermosa. En cada capítulo sus autoras nos acercan de manera literaria a historias sobre las regiones en las que esta dividido el cielo y que hoy llamamos, oficialmente, constelaciones. Algunos capítulos son cuentos, uno es incluso un excitante guión de lo que podría ser el episodio de una serie de acción con personajes de la mitología; los más son ingeniosas síntesis de algunos de los mitos que pueblan el cielo y no solo de los mitos grecolatinos, sino también mitos de otros lugares del planeta.
El libro fácil de leer (aunque la letra es excesivamente pequeña debo decirlo) y se presta para un recorrido tranquilo y al ritmo deseado por todo el cielo.
Aunque no creo que haya sido su aspiración, no dudo que el trabajo de Hislop y Waldron (sus autoras) es digno de inscribirse en la larga tradición de libros sobre el cielo y sus personajes, desde Ptolomeo, pasando por Petrus Plancius, Johannes y Elisabetha Hevelius, hasta llegar a los clásicos de Lacaille y Blaeu. ¡Bravo por ellas!
Me quedo con esta hermosa cita de Carlyle:
«[¿Por qué razón] nadie me enseñó las constelaciones, para hacerme sentir como en mi casa en los cielos estrellados que, siempre sobre nuestras cabezas, hoy apenas conozco[?]» — Thomas Carlyle
February 21, 2016
2.75 stars, to be honest. This book took me damn near a month to finish even though each constellation took up an average of 3 pages.
I didn't enjoy this book as much as I had wanted - my expectations were more along the classically written textbook mythology of the stars. The author probably met that expectation about 55% of the time while adding in more exploratory and "off the wall" style of writing. This off the wall style was educational, adding to the astronomy section in my brain in a pretentious, hipster doctorate kind of way (I couldn't appreciate it, but maybe you can?). It did prove to be thoroughly researched, but too much of the focus was on the historical discovery of some constellation rather than the myths. The type of story you get depends on how well known and popular each constellation has lasted through the centuries.
The illustrations were alright, I didn't really care for them. Neither a hit or miss, it just is.
I was also expecting more of the mythologies from all over the world, which was met about 45% of the time. I did like that, but I felt more was needed from that area because of what the description had said.
Upon re-reading the description trying to make more sense of the book, I suppose the word "whimsical" stands out the most: a euphemism for "what the fuck is she talking about?" or "why am I still reading this?". I don't care for the book, but I'm not saying it's a bad book... it's more along the lines of style preference and it definitely wasn't my style (simple, to the point, heavy in mythology, less historical, worldly, easy on the eyes, yadda yadda yadda...).
Good luck with it, you have been warned.
I didn't enjoy this book as much as I had wanted - my expectations were more along the classically written textbook mythology of the stars. The author probably met that expectation about 55% of the time while adding in more exploratory and "off the wall" style of writing. This off the wall style was educational, adding to the astronomy section in my brain in a pretentious, hipster doctorate kind of way (I couldn't appreciate it, but maybe you can?). It did prove to be thoroughly researched, but too much of the focus was on the historical discovery of some constellation rather than the myths. The type of story you get depends on how well known and popular each constellation has lasted through the centuries.
The illustrations were alright, I didn't really care for them. Neither a hit or miss, it just is.
I was also expecting more of the mythologies from all over the world, which was met about 45% of the time. I did like that, but I felt more was needed from that area because of what the description had said.
Upon re-reading the description trying to make more sense of the book, I suppose the word "whimsical" stands out the most: a euphemism for "what the fuck is she talking about?" or "why am I still reading this?". I don't care for the book, but I'm not saying it's a bad book... it's more along the lines of style preference and it definitely wasn't my style (simple, to the point, heavy in mythology, less historical, worldly, easy on the eyes, yadda yadda yadda...).
Good luck with it, you have been warned.
August 23, 2019
Me ha encantado, adoro la mitologia griega y la manera de explicar las historias sobre las constelaciones de Hislop, me ha atrapado.
January 1, 2016
I still don't understand what this was supposed to be. I thought it was going to be a book of myths about the constellations, instead it was a book of weirdness by a single author. There were indeed some parts that incorporated myth or lore that helped create certain constellations, but then there was everything else. I don't even know how to describe it...it was like the author was creating her own stories, poems, etc. about constellations and none of them were that...good.
For instance, I was very much looking forward to the lore surrounding Lyra, aaaaaand, it was a dumb made up story about someone naming their daughter Lyra. Uh, I give no shits about said dumb made up girl named Lyra. I want to know about real Lyra. Ugh.
For instance, I was very much looking forward to the lore surrounding Lyra, aaaaaand, it was a dumb made up story about someone naming their daughter Lyra. Uh, I give no shits about said dumb made up girl named Lyra. I want to know about real Lyra. Ugh.
February 5, 2018
I was actually very disappointed with this book. When I read the synopsis, I had the impression that it would be full of the mythology behind the stars, the importance of certain stars to certain cultures, etc. Instead, it was a weird combination of fact turned into fiction, and it's very obviously written to cater to the modern young teen.
The only reason I've rated this two stars instead of one is because I really liked the illustrations. The illustrations were gorgeous and I liked to look at them.
The only reason I've rated this two stars instead of one is because I really liked the illustrations. The illustrations were gorgeous and I liked to look at them.
December 28, 2014
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2016
The writing... Awful. I had to force myself to read this. Such a disappointment; it was a really good concept and really beautifully laid out.
December 26, 2014
From BBC Radio 4 - Book of the Week:
A seasonal reading for clear and frosty nights, when the skies sparkle with thousands of dots forming half remembered, almost traceable shapes. These are the stories behind the names and shapes of the constellations that pattern the night sky.
Stories In The Stars by Susanna Hislop is read by a range of voices and accents from around the country and the globe. It might be one of the stories that the great Egyptian astronomer Ptolemy assigned to them in his masterwork that became known as the Almagest, or it might be a personified first person narration from the constellation Chameleon having a grumble about the number of different names and imagined shapes assigned to him over the millennia.
From Greco-Roman mythology to the lives of the eighteenth century astronomers, this is a delightful miscellany which gives us a reason to step outside, look up and wonder at the magic lantern show above us.
Readers: Susanna Hislop, Maggie Steed, Noma Dumezweni, Colman Domingo
A seasonal reading for clear and frosty nights, when the skies sparkle with thousands of dots forming half remembered, almost traceable shapes. These are the stories behind the names and shapes of the constellations that pattern the night sky.
Stories In The Stars by Susanna Hislop is read by a range of voices and accents from around the country and the globe. It might be one of the stories that the great Egyptian astronomer Ptolemy assigned to them in his masterwork that became known as the Almagest, or it might be a personified first person narration from the constellation Chameleon having a grumble about the number of different names and imagined shapes assigned to him over the millennia.
From Greco-Roman mythology to the lives of the eighteenth century astronomers, this is a delightful miscellany which gives us a reason to step outside, look up and wonder at the magic lantern show above us.
Readers: Susanna Hislop, Maggie Steed, Noma Dumezweni, Colman Domingo
April 21, 2019
Desde pequeña me han encantado las historias de los héroes y dioses griegos, aunque cruentas en su mayoría, por no decir en su totalidad, han mostrado respuestas para las que aún su ciencia y tecnología no eran capaces de dar. El porqué de muchas situaciones normales en la naturaleza se explicaba a través de estas leyendas, y dejaba mucho más tranquilos a los seres humanos de entonces.
En estos tiempos no tenían ningún tipo de artilugio o invento que les ayudara a ver las estrellas más lejanas, por lo que comenzaron a dar nombre solo a las que veían con sus propios ojos. Por ello, siglos más tarde se tuvo que dar un repaso a su atlas para introducir constelaciones nuevas usando estrellas que no eran capaces de ver, bien por su lejanía o bien porque solo clasificaron las del hemisferio norte. Por esto, en el atlas actual tenemos una mezcla de constelaciones con nombres de la mitología griega, junto con otras en homenaje a inventos del ser humano o útiles de artistas como la escala, el cincel o el compás.
Para poder escribir cada relato, la autora se ha documentado muy bien, y no solo nos muestra la historia griega de sus constelaciones, sino que si hay alguna leyenda más de otra cultura sobre esa constelación en cuestión, la comparte en la misma página. Por eso no faltan historias aborígenes australianas, inuits o africanas, que dan su punto de vista, igual de interesante.
Por otro lado, pocas son las constelaciones que tienen la forma de lo que representan, por lo que es de valorar las ilustraciones de Hannah Waldron para entender mejor la gran mayoría de ellas. Estas ilustraciones son preciosas, y cada una está en perfecta sintonía con la historia escrita por Susanna Hislop para cada una de ellas. Es un trabajo en equipo admirable, que tiene como resultado este magnífico libro, editado por cierto con mucho cuidado y mimo por Errata Naturae.
En estos tiempos no tenían ningún tipo de artilugio o invento que les ayudara a ver las estrellas más lejanas, por lo que comenzaron a dar nombre solo a las que veían con sus propios ojos. Por ello, siglos más tarde se tuvo que dar un repaso a su atlas para introducir constelaciones nuevas usando estrellas que no eran capaces de ver, bien por su lejanía o bien porque solo clasificaron las del hemisferio norte. Por esto, en el atlas actual tenemos una mezcla de constelaciones con nombres de la mitología griega, junto con otras en homenaje a inventos del ser humano o útiles de artistas como la escala, el cincel o el compás.
Para poder escribir cada relato, la autora se ha documentado muy bien, y no solo nos muestra la historia griega de sus constelaciones, sino que si hay alguna leyenda más de otra cultura sobre esa constelación en cuestión, la comparte en la misma página. Por eso no faltan historias aborígenes australianas, inuits o africanas, que dan su punto de vista, igual de interesante.
Por otro lado, pocas son las constelaciones que tienen la forma de lo que representan, por lo que es de valorar las ilustraciones de Hannah Waldron para entender mejor la gran mayoría de ellas. Estas ilustraciones son preciosas, y cada una está en perfecta sintonía con la historia escrita por Susanna Hislop para cada una de ellas. Es un trabajo en equipo admirable, que tiene como resultado este magnífico libro, editado por cierto con mucho cuidado y mimo por Errata Naturae.
September 24, 2020
A fun book that describes SOME of the myths, legends, and tales that created the astronomical constellations (some are also totally made up). I think it could have been more useful if an effort was made to help the reader find said constellations in the actual sky (how to gain orientation, what to look for, etc.). This might have been done using a fold-out diagram of the entire sky -- I know challenging but still useful.
May 10, 2022
Un libro ligero, escrito con una buena dosis de humor, que acerca la historia de las 88 constelaciones actuales. Muchos de los nombres que estas han recibido tienen su origen en un mito (como Andrómeda o Perseo), pero otras han sido nombradas en honor a algún invento científico (como el microscopio) o a algún animal (como el camaleón). En las ocasiones en que la constelación no tiene una historia propia, la autora opta por contar algún hecho relevante sobre ella, o, a veces, inventarse directamente un cuento. Una de las cosas que más me ha gustado del libro son las referencias a cómo otras culturas han visto la misma constelación.
Aunque no todos los textos me han gustado (como los que acompañan a las constelaciones El cincel y Leo), en general he disfrutado mucho con el tono ligero y con la cuidada edición.
Aunque no todos los textos me han gustado (como los que acompañan a las constelaciones El cincel y Leo), en general he disfrutado mucho con el tono ligero y con la cuidada edición.
May 18, 2022
I bought this book hoping for the legends behind each constellation. Instead, I was disappointed to find that some constellations were just given basic stories or small poems by the author herself. If there is no legend behind the constellation, then at least give me the story behind the discovery. I really don’t care for your laments about not having learned of the stars in your youth.
January 10, 2020
Algunas de las historias son bastante bonitas e interesantes, tengan que ver con mitología o con ciencia, pero hay otras que no aportan absolutamente nada. Las ilustraciones no me han gustado mucho, eso sí, la encuadernación es una auténtica preciosidad.
July 20, 2020
The illustrations are beautiful. Unfortunately, the constellation stories are poorly organized and frequently irrelevant. Good as a coffee table book full of miscellaneous tidbits, but not a very good introduction or guide to constellations.
August 8, 2018
Bought this book thinking it was astronomy. Turns out it's a 3rd wave feminism propaganda sandwich in astronomy bread. Don't take my word for it.
May 2, 2020
I started this book expecting the actual stories behind the constellations, the mythology and history. What I got instead was a bunch of bizarre woo-woo slam poetry about each constellation.
March 1, 2023
I'm not sure what to make of this book. The best description would probably be: All over the place.
The book contains all the constellations in the night sky with one text to each constellation. Many of the texts are based on the mythological stories behind the characters depicted in the constellations, while some texts are more modern takes or stories around the objects depicted. Histories about how scientists named the constellations are also included.
I actually preferred the texts that deviated from the classical mythological stories. The constellations are just made up and imaginary anyway, so it felt fresh having a more modern take. I wish the whole book was like that – kind of a reimagination of the constellations, if we were to make stories for them today. I think there are already plenty of books about the mythological stories behind the constellations.
Sometimes the texts are incredibly boring and unmemorable, other times wonderfully written. I think the book is beautifully illustrated and designed.
The book contains all the constellations in the night sky with one text to each constellation. Many of the texts are based on the mythological stories behind the characters depicted in the constellations, while some texts are more modern takes or stories around the objects depicted. Histories about how scientists named the constellations are also included.
I actually preferred the texts that deviated from the classical mythological stories. The constellations are just made up and imaginary anyway, so it felt fresh having a more modern take. I wish the whole book was like that – kind of a reimagination of the constellations, if we were to make stories for them today. I think there are already plenty of books about the mythological stories behind the constellations.
Sometimes the texts are incredibly boring and unmemorable, other times wonderfully written. I think the book is beautifully illustrated and designed.
January 30, 2020
Багато кому не подобається виклад цієї книжки, але мені вона видалась дуже приємною. Авторка наче намагається швидко переказати якусь мегадетальну книжку про сузір'я другу чи подрузі, вставляє жарти, якісь раптові асоціації, відвисає на історії, які десь колись чула, прогортує нецікаві моменти, тому виходить живо і плавно. Знань багато не почерпнеш, але хоча б просічеш, звідки ті всі циркулі і секстанти на небі і що таке астеризми.
September 30, 2020
Hislop has chosen a mighty list of constellations to talk about telling their various myths and stories. The stories more than enlighten about the basic name and images we've all known since childhood. Some of them are not nice stories as we know from mythology not all the gods were good gods. Lots of intrigue and family arguments and even some underhanded goings on. All of which make it an interesting reading for the curious.
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July 16, 2019
This was a cool book, but because of the choice to go alphabetical, you'd sometimes run into three or four stories about Keyser and de Houtman in a row and that was kind of a lot. The illustrations were beautiful. My only complaint is that for the few constellations that were given a full two-page spread, the picture was sometimes partially eaten by the fold.
June 8, 2018
The short charming stories (anecdotes really) and gorgeous illustrations make this an excellent book to dip into. If you're looking for something comprehensive to read cover to cover then this is not the book for you, but it definitely makes a nice coffee table piece.
December 13, 2020
This is, of course, a book about myths, not astronomy. This is the main thing to be mentioned about it. And this is a beautiful, very poetic book about myths. But a little astrophysics would only beautify it.
January 30, 2021
Some constellation stories are alright, others are completely out of place. Did not enjoy the descriptions so much, language too shallow often written in a teenager style. The book design and pictures are clear and pleasant though, far better than the content.
June 26, 2023
My only expectation was to be entertained, but somehow, I didn't even get that. Boring at best, irritating at worst, the only redeeming part of this book is the illustrations that the writing keeps dragging through the mud. Jesus Christ.
January 6, 2024
fue un regalo hace años y quitando sus las ilustraciones son preciosas, eso es todo. te lo venden como una mini enciclopedia en el que se cuentan historias y en muchos casos de repente te encuentras cosas súper random! no lo entendí
November 10, 2024
Me encantó. En este libro se hace un recorrido por cada una de las constelaciones. Una mezcla de historias de la astronomía y la mitología detrás de cada región del cielo y asterismo. Con mapas claros y descripciones precisas, el libro ofrece al lector una puerta de entrada al cielo estrellado.
August 5, 2021
pictures were nice but the omes that took 2 pages were difficult to see in the middle. also, some of the stories were...questionable
April 7, 2024
not enough accurate myths and kinda weird writing, not what i was looking for
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews