Helping Hercules and Other Stories

by Simon and Alison Holst

Here are the Greek myths as you've never heard them before.Susan is whisked back through time to Ancient Greece, and finds that helping Hercules clean the Augean stables is much, much worse than tidying her room. One hair-raising experience follows another as she goes down into the Underworld with Orpheus, just misses being turned to stone by Medusa, and rides on the winged horse Pegasus. This is both a fabulously funny story and a brilliant way to introduce children to eight of the best-known Greek myths. Susan meddles in each of the myths - taking a dim view of the gods and goddesses and heroes she encounters - but gets out in the nick of time, so the myths themselves remain unchanged and will be remembered vividly by their readers.Read by Mark Perry. Mark Perry of Dead Ringers and 2DTV fame is a political and sports impressionist in other BBC radio series and in The Archers. On TV he has appeared in Mr Charity and in various stage productions around Britain.

Genres: Childrens

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Willen P · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've finished reading it for the third time, other two times I believe were in late 2010 and early 2015.

I'd give it a 3.5, due to the educational content (the Greek myths and legend characters dramatised in a comic way without being too off the track. I just wished it was a larger anthology with more characters, or at least if this had a sequel. I understand that Simon was very interested in Greek mythology, so kudos to her for writing this.

[Susanne Beyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neat idea, Francesca-Simonly-well written, with some very funny dialogues.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Susan is anything but helpful at home. So not surprisingly, her magic coin sends her on mythological adventures to help cure her of her stubborn laziness. Turns out she was the brains behind many of the greatest mythical adventures of all time!