Here are the thrills, grandeur, and unabashed fun of the Greek myths, stylishly retold by Stephen Fry. The legendary writer, actor, and comedian breathes life into ancient tales, from Pandora’s box to Prometheus’s fire, and transforms the adventures of Zeus and the Olympians into emotionally resonant and deeply funny stories, without losing any of their original wonder. Classical artwork inspired … inspired by the myths and learned notes from the author offer rich cultural context.
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Stephen Fry retells familiar Greek Myths with his trademark humor and his in depth knowledge. I really enjoyed reading these versions and often laughed out loud. The book is very well written and easy to read. Enjoy this fun book.
Myhtos is just pure fun. Fry tells the stories of the Greek gods without heady historical arguments or debates about the meaning of the tales. He presents the stories as simply stories for our enjoyment. The Greek myths are farcical and absurd. Accompanied by Fry’s quick wit and casual manner, the Greek myths have never been told better. I learned so much but always felt like I was sitting down to enjoy some Saturday morning cartoons when reading this book. Fry is a bard intent on entertaining with jokes, linguistic acrobatics, and references to modern culture. This was the most fun I’ve had with a book in a long time. The book not only covers the well-known stories of Zeus and Hera and Hades, but delves into the stories of Narcisus, Midas, Hermes, Gaia, and so many others. I didn’t realize so much of the conflict between Greek gods was due to infidelity and lust, but Fry does his best to explain the lineages of Zeus’ numerous children by countless gods and mortals in way that makes sense in the moment. While this book felt light and joyful, there is no doubt that meticulous and exhaustive research went into the making of this book. I will definitely be seeking out the sequel about the Age of Heroes.
Wonderful review of mythology done in a modern, entertaining fashion! I highly recommend the audiobook so that you can enjoy Stephen Fry’s narration.
Thoroughly enjoyable! I’ve been a fan of Stephen Fry long before I picked up this book, and an avid reader of Greek Myths since I was a child. Fry’s wit and humor bring an enchanting touch to these stories, but he also was appropriately solemn for the tragic tales, before bringing you back to good humor with a quick witticism. I loved this and look forward to reading Fry’s next book in his Greek Myths series.
This is a fantastic introduction to Greek mythology. Stephen Fry wrote and narrated it perfectly and with as much humour as you’d expect, which made me smile and laugh throughout. I’ve always felt more drawn to Greek mythology than others and loved learning more about it from him; although, I admit I was more interested in the first half than the second because I’m more interested in the ‘big’ gods (Zeus, Apollo, Aphrodite, etc) than their ‘smaller’ offspring like Midas. That’s just personal preference, though, not a criticism.
There’s a wide selection of stories from all across the pantheon, and there’s also a bit about the history and origins of mythology, which was interesting to learn about.
I’m not really sure how to review it beyond saying that it was hilarious throughout, very well written and narrated, and a great introduction for anyone interested in Greek mythology. I listened to the audiobook and recommend that too!
Mythos provides a approachable way to learn ancient Greek Myths. Especially for someone who had not had extensive exposure to these stories in the past, this was a great introduction into these long told tales. Due to the several dozen gods, nymphs, and others, I at times found it a bit hard to keep track of who everyone was and the stories a bit choppy. That could, in part, have been to the fact that I listened instead of read this book. Either way, would still recommend!
While I was not up on my Greek names and mythology, I found the many different myth tellings entertaining and fun to listen to. It was interesting to see how things like the seasons came about or how the Gods toyed with humans and the world came into being. I think it’s an intriguing and fun read as well as a learning experience.
I am a big nerd for mythology, and even though I’ve studied a lot of greek mythology, I’m always game to go over them again. What I love about this collection is that you get the stories, a lot about the etymology of words that come from greek myths, and Stephen Fry’s sharp wit. I listened to this book on audio, which I recommend if you like Stephen Fry, because he reads the book.
Book source ~ Library
Anyone who hasn’t heard of the Greek gods or the myths associated with them must have been hiding out in a barren wasteland. I’m no stranger to them having learned about them in school and then reading all kinds of books about them over the years. But this book by Stephen Fry is not only comprehensive from the very beginning of their reign onwards, but it’s funny as fuck, too. Because, you know, Stephen Fry.
I had no idea how often Zeus stuck his dick in gods and mortals alike. Sweet Baby Jane, that guy was a Class A Horndog. But you know who else was? Poseidon and Hermes. But do you ever hear about their wild debauchery? Noooooooo. You know who the stand up guy was? Hades. Go figure, right? Anyway, there were a fuckton of offspring from these gods and it all gets a bit confusing. I don’t know how anyone could keep them all straight, but Stephen Fry lays it all out and covers it all with a warm fuzzy blanket of humor. I recommend this book to anyone who has even the slightest interest in Greek Mythology.