
Lin G. (
LinG) wrote on 10/16/2006...
4 member(s) found this review helpful.
Great classic book!
From back cover:
For over fifty years readers have chosen this book above all others to discover the thrilling, enchanting, and fascinating world of Western mythology. From Odysseus's adventure-filled journey to the Norse god Odin's effort to postpone the final day of doom; Edith Hamilton's classic collection not only retells these stories with brilliant clarity but shows us how the ancients saw their own place in the world and how their themes echo in our consciousness today. An essential part of every home library, MYTHOLOGY is the definitive volume for anyone who wants to know the key dramas, the primary characters, the triumphs, failures, fears, and hopes first narrated thousands of years ago--and still spellbinding to this day.
EDITH HAMILTON is the acclaimed author of 'The Greek Way' and 'The Roman Way,' which have been read by generations of readers around the world. She was made an honorary citizen of Athens in 1957.
"Ms. Hamilton arranged her rich material with the idea of achieving the maximum sense and readability . . . [and] making her subject attractive for the reader of today." -- New York Times Book Review
"Sure taste and scholarship.. . . Excellent introductions to each section." -- The New Yorker
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Classic and timeless as the myths themselves. Hamilton is the standard by which all other mythology books are measured.

Aarti N. (
chapati) wrote on 12/6/2005...
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Amazon.com
Edith Hamilton loved the ancient Western myths with a passion--and this classic compendium is her tribute. "The tales of Greek mythology do not throw any clear light upon what early mankind was like," Hamilton explains in her introduction. "They do throw an abundance of light upon what early Greeks were like--a matter, it would seem, of more importance to us, who are their descendents intellectually, artistically, and politically. Nothing we learn about them is alien to ourselves." Fans of Greek mythology will find all the great stories and characters here--Perseus, Hercules, and Odysseus--each discussed in generous detail by the voice of an impressively knowledgeable and engaging (with occasional lapses) narrator. This is also an excellent primer for middle- and high-school students who are studying ancient Greek and Roman culture and literature. --Gail Hudson