Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes, 75th Anniversary Illustrated Edition

Another Christmas gift very much enjoyed by the recipient. This book appealed as it doesn't cover just one civilizations beliefs but many.

Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods & Heroes by Edith Hamilton was written as long ago as the 1940s and remains the classic go-to book for the stories of the myths, supreme above many of the modern retellings, with wonderful new illustrations making it even more inviting and a better read than it’s ever been. Covering both the Greek and Roman myths in detail, and the Norse myths to a lesser extent, it is not only a good read but fabulously entertaining throughout and of interest to anyone who likes a well told story by a masterful writer of the genre. Highly recommended. I hope you find my review helpful.

The first one I received had a rip down the spine of the dust cover as well as, as others have said, lots of smudge marks/finger prints all over the cover. I have just received a replacement from Amazon (I can't fault their return/replacement service as they've always been helpful if there's any problems). The second one looks much better, but still with a couple of wipeable smudges. I haven't read the book but it looks interesting and comprehensive. An easy to use contents page, lots of info on major and minor Greek mythology characters and even a very small section on Norse mythology at the back. The very few pictures inside look beautiful! Bought for a present for my son who is really into Greek Mythology at the moment and, though perhaps aimed at older people than he, I'm sure that he will love the look of and information within this book!

As previous reviews have stated, the packaging for this book is absolutely terrible. The book arrived only in a thin cardboard envelope, without any protective packaging. Typically Amazon tends to over-package, but this time they most definitely did not. It is such a shame as the book cover is stunning and definitely a standout addition to any bookshelf! However, the review should be about the book and not the ineptness of the packaging. The book is exceptionally well presented, the print is of high quality, and the illustrations pop vividly. I've only had the chance to read a little of the text, and so far, so good. The writing is very friendly for those who are introducing themselves to the topic. I would highly recommend it as a starter book. All in all: great book; abysmal packaging. Sort it out, Amazon.

One has to go back in time to find genuine depictions of classical Europe. Indeed this book from the 40s gives a superb view of Greek Mythology (includes also Roman and Norse). One could buy it as a future museum piece because very soon books with these production standards could be rarities. The book has thick hard cover, with thick quality pages, beautiful strong colour plates and stitch binding. It is a joy to hold in your hands and read it. It is a book for a lifetime. My copy arrived in excellent condition and I surely understand those that protest for damaged book delivery. Such a beauty deserves to be unscathed. Even more impressive however is its content. The author has understood the very essence of Greek mythology. In the introduction it lays clearly the key facts about Hellenic mythology: (1) it is not fables but oral transfer of true events (2) part of it is also pure literature but it is not difficult to identify the literature from factual parts, (3) the cosmos made the gods and not the other way around, (4) Greek myths are rational without magic or fear of the world: the only two witches Circe and Medea are beautiful, attractive women and interesting characters, (5) women are as important as men in the Greek myths and the feminine nature is propelled to a major force in shaping world and society without which the world would not be viable (6) there is no mysticism but rather a fresh love of the natural, the visual and the beautiful: monsters are codenames for volcanoes, earthquakes and other geological phenomena not parts of social life, (7) the myths promote upright ethics, heroism and the idea of a meaningful life, (8) they excite reader's imagination without being fairy tales or unrealistic: realism and imagination go hand in hand. One could add many more but overall in this book one can see clearly the basis of a civilisation that was destined to become great and provide Europe with its mind and soul. A perfect gift for young and adult readership. My only complaint is that in her effort to make it light reading perhaps, the author avoided the full range of Greek names and other details in the myths, when she should have kept them and even expand on them with a bit of etymology. Yet it would be unfair not to consider it perfect for what it does, which explains that it continues to sell 80 years after its first publication: how many books can boast such an achievement?

Great book, i would buy again. stories very well told, very well written. A beautiful edition, lots of lovely graphics. not very many actual 'pictures' maybe 5 in the whole book, and could have been more, but you get over it. The stories are highly readable and highly enjoyable / memorable. some nice timelines and family trees of the various gods and houses. I burned through the book in a week when the wife was away, and still dip into the book now and again. and in time the kids will read it for school, this one is a keeper.

Stylish reproduction in honour of Edith Hamilton. Detailed passages of the various Myths, including Family history diagrams which helps enormously !

I'm not qualified to give a scholarly opinion on the book, but I would liked to have read more on the Norse Gods. It seemed to me to be more focused on the Greek and Roman Gods. But still an excellent book.

Uma grande, ornamentada e nova edição do 75º aniversário da Mitologia clássica foi lançada. Na intitulada "Contos intemporais de deuses e heróis", a autora, Edith Hamilton, narra todas as histórias mais famosas da mitologia grega e romana, com uma pitada de mitos nórdicos (uma boa sobremesa no final do livro). Tudo está aqui, desde esboços biográficos dos deuses olímpicos até interpretações da busca do velo dourado, as aventuras de Jason e os Argonautas, a Guerra dos Troia e, claro, os Trabalhos de Hércules, por onde Hamilton guia os leitores com sua incisiva claridade. História após história é contada sobre suas aventuras. Ele lutou contra o deus do rio, Achelous, porque Achelous estava apaixonado por uma mulher com quem Hércules desejava se casar. Como todos os outros, Achelous não desejava lutar contra ele e tentou resolver a situação com palavras. Mas isso nunca funcionou com Hércules. Só o deixou mais irritado. Ele diz: "Minha mão é melhor do que a minha língua. Deixe-me vencê-lo, pois você pode me ganhar na conversa". Achelous assume então a forma de um touro e o ataca ferozmente, mas Hércules já estava acostumado a subjugar touros. Edith apresenta todas as histórias com uma avaliação prévia e concisa de sua origem; qual fonte clássica (i.e., mítica) ela usou para fundamentar as narrativas. "Esta história é contada apenas por Apuleius, um escritor latino do segundo século A.D", ela escreve sobre Cupido e Psique, por exemplo. "É um conto lindamente narrado, à maneira de Ovídio. O escritor é entretido pelo que escreve, mas ele não acredita nisso". Enfim, esta adorável edição de aniversário apresenta ilustrações de meio tom e imagens em "full-page" desenhadas por Jim Tierney, e tão deliciosas como muitas obras deste tipo são. Sua qualidade irá agradar completamente todos os fãs de mitos dos clássicos de Hamilton. Quanto à própria Hamilton, ela resume sua "nobre" tarefa: "Afinal, quando alguém compra um livro como esse, não se pergunta de que forma divertida o autor contou as histórias, mas o quanto ele trouxe o leitor para o mais próximo do original”. Como de costume, ela está sendo muito rígida. Certamente os leitores perguntarão de que modo o autor narrou essas histórias ... e, como a nova capa dura nos lembra, essa autora nunca falhou, mesmo após 75 anos. Boa leitura!

Read about 50 pages and matches what i expected. Describes the roman/greek gods and matches them, then goes into some origin stories

Beautiful hardcover book. So worth it

El libro es simplemente divino. Las pocas ilustraciones que contiene son sensacionales, la forma en el que está narrado es muy divertida y fácil de comprender. Es uno de mis primeros acercamientos a la mitología griega, y todo lo que el libro contiene me ha ayudado muchísimo. En cuanto a la presentación del libro, la portada llegó un poco doblada, sin embargo todo lo demás lo compensa.

Arrived with scratch marks on the dust cover and dents on the front and back.