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Title: Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes Author: Edith Hamilton Rating: Not available Avg. Score: 4 Submit Comment Hits: 16

Review of Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes

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Comments for Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes

• Posted on 2008-06-19
  Not quite as expected...but decent
  
  Very good book on a basic guide to ancient mythology, but I was disappointed to find out how basic it was. I like how it seemed the author was mixing Greek, Roman, Nordic, and other ancient mythologies together... However, this book seems to stick to Greek and Roman and barely touch on Nordic, and the other mythologies might as well have been deleted they tell so little. Certainly not a bible for mythology at all!
  
  Overall I learned a little, and it was interesting, none-the-less. I don't feel cheated, but I wouldn't buy it again.
  Score: 3
• Posted on 2008-04-04
  MYTHOLOGY by Edith Hamilton
  
  Mythology is classicist Edith Hamilton's book on Greek, Roman and Norse mythology, illustrated by Steele Savage (no kidding). The bulk of the work is devoted to the Greek, and the Norse is mentioned only in passing. Myths are arranged thematically, not chronologically (except for the initial creation), which is disruptive to the flow of the work.
  
  Hamilton does several things well. First, she gives history on the authors from whom these stories have descended, and differentiates between their styles. Second, she gives good insight into the character of the people of the time as well as into the character of the mythological figures. She obviously knows the material and cares about it.
  
  Mythology reads like a history book. Many stories get wrapped up too quickly, and quite a few are told too simplistically. Many details are left out. The writing is juvenile at times, and paragraph flow is occasionally an issue. This is almost a Cliff's Notes on mythology. Ultimately, Hamilton makes most of these myths boring. Others, with too many details cut out, the reader will find hard to get into.
  
  Mythology has some good things to offer, but on the whole, this is an inferior way to enjoy the myths. This book may be useful to some as a quick-reference guide, but that's about it.
  
  TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT
  
  Score: 3
• Posted on 2008-02-28
  A classic introduction.....
  
  I remember being captivated by this book and its stories when I was in the 5th grade. I recently bought it for my 5th-grade daughter, when she started reading the "Pendragon" series, so she would have a better understanding of the mythological references in that modern children's series. She liked it better than Pendragon!
  Score: 5
• Posted on 2007-10-08
  not my type
  
  I thought this book was so boring. I had to force myself to read it. I had to read it for school, i had to end up finding the summary so i wouldn't have to read the rest.I know that its considered a classic, i guess this was seriously not my type of book. I give it 2 stars because it could have been worst.
  Score: 2
• Posted on 2007-08-19
  Well known telling of major "tales of gods and heroes"
  
  This is a long standing work on mythology. The emphasis is on Greek and Roman tales, with a too brief discussion of Norse mythology. That some of the other reviewers mention it in the same breath as Bulfinch is testimony to the volume's value.
  
  The work features a nice introductory essay to "set up" the discussion of Greek and Roman myths. There is also a rather unsatisfying brief introduction to the underdeveloped section on Norse mythology.
  
  The first part features "The Gods, the Creation, and the Earliest Heroes." Here, Hamilton examines the array of gods, the stories of creation, and early heroes (such as Prometheus, Europa, and Polyphemus [hero??]). Part Two explores "Stories of Love and Adventure." In this segment, Hamilton considers Cupid and Psyche, and a series of tales of love (e.g., Pyramus and Thisbe, Orpheus and Eurydice, and so on). Also, the story of the Golden Fleece is retold.
  
  Part Three summarizes "The Great Heroes before the Trojan War," including renderings of Perseus, Theseus, and the great Hercules. Part Four, as one might have anticipated, looks at "The Heroes of the Trojan War." Hamilton spends time on a number of figures and stories, such as Paris, the fall of Troy, Odysseus' post-Troy adventures, and the travails of Aeneas.
  
  Part Five considers "Great Families of Mythology," such as the Houses of Atreus (think Agamemnon and Iphigenia), Thebes (Cadmus, Oedipus, Antigone), and Athens. Hamilton then moves to Part Six, where she summarizes the stories of "The Less Important Myths," including Midas, Glaucus and Scylla, inter alia.
  
  Part Seven, as already noted, is a too brief coverage of "The Mythology of the Norsemen."
  
  And, finally, a wonderfully helpful genealogy at the end (e.g., Ancestors of Perseus and Hercules, the House of Troy, and so on).
  
  This is well written and shows considerable erudition. There are some problems in coverage as noted, but, in the end, this is still a welcome volume.
  
  Score: 4