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24th out of 168 books
—
110 voters
Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths
The earth breeds giants and ogres of indescribable horror -- the heavens hold omnipotent gods and goddesses, abounding in courage, strength and wisdom.
Zeus, the almighty king of the gods, who cannot resist feminine beauty -- mortal or divine, and his jealous and vengeful wife, Hera.
Perseus, fearless mortal warrior, who takes on an impossible challenge: slaying the monstrou...more
Zeus, the almighty king of the gods, who cannot resist feminine beauty -- mortal or divine, and his jealous and vengeful wife, Hera.
Perseus, fearless mortal warrior, who takes on an impossible challenge: slaying the monstrou...more
Paperback, 224 pages
Published
September 1st 1984
by Laurel Leaf
(first published 1975)
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Obnoxious oversimplifications but it fits in your back pocket and is succinct enough to sneak in a story in a waiting room or on your lunch break.
Jan 03, 2013
Shweta
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
got-an-arc-to-review,
oh-my-gods
We have known the Greek Gods, the demigods and the heroes through various re tellings in fiction and movies which try to capture their essence in terms of powers and conquests. These books have never been comprehensive in their approach to mythology. One book might deal with a few Gods and demigods at most at one time and even then if its a retelling lot of changes occur in the story. I had always wanted a book that could be read as Greek Mythology 101. Written with the uninitiated in mind. Bern...more
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Throughout the Greek Myths within “Heroes, Gods, and Monsters”, at least three invaluable attributes are discernible: Creativity, perseverance, and resourcefulness. Although the Greek Gods possessed many trepidations, their true values always surfaced during their mythical tribulations. Creativity is an important element in problem solving, and there was no better way for Hephaestus to kindle this creativity other than the through the arts. Hera, mortified to have brought forth such repugnant of...more
Apr 24, 2009
PurplyCookie
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mythic-fiction,
classics
Obviously written for a younger audience (compared to the compliation of Hamilton & Bulfinch) since most of the more obscure Greek myths (and in many cases, the more interesting ones) are left out entirely; of the myths which are included, only one version is presented of each, obscuring the fact that in many cases there were multiple versions of each myth, each version interesting and useful in its own right. Yet with simple language and direct verse, he quite excellently brings out a depth...more
Keeping in mind that this book is geared more towards younger teens/older children - I think it hits it's mark just fine. My name is Athena - with a name like that I have clearly spent years reading Greek Mythology. I am no expert and would never claim to be. Even so, I love the simplification of these characters and how this book is not overwhelming at all for a reader. I young person cannot really read the Iliad and the Odyssey - but they can read this and really get a feel for some of the ama...more
I love this book! I've always had a thing for Greek mythology, and though i knew alot of myths, this book was refreshing and brushed on all the major greek myths. I really find it intresting how different books depict myths differently, usually i would excpect a myth to go one way and then something else happens which really kept me wanting to read more because i've made it my job to learn as much as i can about Greek Myths. All the myths were action pact, and there was alot of drama in the stor...more
I was glad to see a quote from this pop up in a GR trivia question the other day, since I've been trying to figure out for years exactly which set of Greek myth retellings I read as a child and recognized the quote right away. After running out to buy and reread it, I can see why others feel these are more aimed at children, since the rough edges are polished off (Zeus "courted" Europa as a white bull??) and the more involved or adult-themed myths aren't included, but I still think this is a pre...more
This is the book we read for my placement for school. It is an easy read with a lot of the essential stories of Greek mythology. It has the begining of the Olympian gods and goddesses. It has nature myths that include, Pandora, Psyche, Echo and Narcissus and others. The Demigod stories include Theseus (he fought the Minotaur) and Perseus (he cut off Medusa's head), plus the fall of Icarus. It includes the fables of Midas and his touch and Pygmalion.
This book touches on the morals of listening to...more
This book touches on the morals of listening to...more
If only I spoke and read Greek, but Bernard Evslin does/did. He did not originally set out to translate or tell any of these stories. He was only following in the classically trained footsteps of his uncle, and he fell in love with Greek stories along the way. This edition of the myths FELT real to me. There are so many Greek Heroes/Gods/Monsters books out there, and most of them feel stilted or overly sanitized. This one told it like it is without being overly graphic. Bravo, Mr. Evslin, and th...more
I think this book is perfect for people who love Greek myths and all those fantasy stories of the Greek gods. This is why I love this book. I am a complete geek for Greek and love it.
I'm on page 58. These pages are the endings of the god stories. In the next chapter, the stories start talking more about nature.
Now I am in the "Nature Myths" part of the book and I like reading these because it explains things about nature that you kind of wonder about. Like why crows are black, and why tortoises...more
I'm on page 58. These pages are the endings of the god stories. In the next chapter, the stories start talking more about nature.
Now I am in the "Nature Myths" part of the book and I like reading these because it explains things about nature that you kind of wonder about. Like why crows are black, and why tortoises...more
Reviewed on Lili Lost in a Book
This is girl here, *points to self* totally in love with mythology! I probably don't have to repeat that since pretty much everyone who knows me know how much I love it, but there ya go!
And this book? *points to Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths* Way awesome!
This book talked about some of the more known myths, the main gods, and most famous monsters. The way the stories were told was just amazing! So much imagery and it did NOT read like a reference book...more
This is girl here, *points to self* totally in love with mythology! I probably don't have to repeat that since pretty much everyone who knows me know how much I love it, but there ya go!
And this book? *points to Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths* Way awesome!
This book talked about some of the more known myths, the main gods, and most famous monsters. The way the stories were told was just amazing! So much imagery and it did NOT read like a reference book...more
I liked this book because the gods tell about them and myths explaning why stuff are the way they are.
I think peace wouldn't last very long with the gods because once the humans invented new things that the gods couldn't control, their downfall would come since their powers would be useless to the humans. Once the technology becomes modern day, there would be no telling of what would happen. Although the gods are indestructible, they wouldn't destroy all of the humans for peace. They want to rule over something and start again. Then it starts all over again. And after that, the scratches would...more
I've always loved Greek Mythology. The stories are always so amazingly poetic, so incredibly creative. I don't think anything since has been able to create such a fantastic world. I can see why it's often referred to as the Golden Age.
One thing I wonder though, is how many stories survived to this day? When reading them, I always get the sense that their intended audience has a much more indepth cannon at their disposal. This is the finest collection I've come across since the Edith Hamilton bo...more
One thing I wonder though, is how many stories survived to this day? When reading them, I always get the sense that their intended audience has a much more indepth cannon at their disposal. This is the finest collection I've come across since the Edith Hamilton bo...more
This book is truly a fun, easy, and revitalizing way to stimulate your Greek knowledge. This book is child friendly but still filled with action young readers will be anticipating to get to the next story. Each story features a different tale with the spotlight on either a God, hero or legend to eventually relay some moral back onto the reader. Stories involving Icarus and the sun, Narcissus and well..himself, Pandora and her box, have stuck with me because of this book. It serves as a good intr...more
Good, and especially fun to read. It didn't provide me with much I didn't know, so if you're already a hard core mythology fan, this book will be like a book of fairy-tales that you've read before, but read again because you love it.
Most of the teens in my class liked it, even though they typically don't like reading. I like the way it's told in a storybook kind of way. It makes it more interesting to read and more like regular fiction.
Most of the teens in my class liked it, even though they typically don't like reading. I like the way it's told in a storybook kind of way. It makes it more interesting to read and more like regular fiction.
I love greek mythology! This book was great, and it was organized so that things made a lot of sense, which is hard to do with the myths, as they are all entwined with each other. I haven't heard a lot of these stories before, so it was exciting, and I couldn't put the book down. Another thing I liked was how Evslin included different versions of each story, and how he tied little bits and pieces of the story to the world today(mostly language).
I first read this book back in High School 1997 and read it again recently. It is thee book that made me love and appreciate Greek Mythology. Unlike most mythology books the give you one version of each story not like ex.(Some say when Hercule died he went to the Underworld's Asphodel Fields or some say he went ascended to Olympus and became a god). And I liked that each books is chaptered by god, demigod, hero, or fable.
This book in my opinion is the perfect example of books that fall under the category of myths and legends. The term legends, the picture of gods and kings and such all come to mind and that is what the book projects and includes. Many and many stories are revealed about gods and what not. It would be a great book to read to others or for yourself. I enjoyed it myself.
I believe I read this one in junior high. A lot of the stories and the way they were told, specific turns of phrase and whatnot, all sounded very familiar. Great simple straightforward book of all "the hits" of Greek Mythology. I'm pretty sure it was this book that started my love affair with these stories way back when and it continues to stoke it even today.
A nice, accessible compilation of some of the more well-known Greek myths written in original "translation" by Evslin, who felt the English translations with which he grew up were sorely lacking. Good read-aloud for younger kids and even read-alone for older ones who read chapter books, though D'Aulaires is probably, in the end, better and more comprehensive.
I loved this book. There is just much to learn about Greek myths. This book talks about the mythical spells and curses, differet types of Gods and their jobs, heroes and even monsters. I was amazed how beautiful these stories are and there are no limits for imagination. I would recommend this book to people who likes to read about ancient cultures.
Good reference for the younger audience. A bit simplified, It would not be useful if looking for information about one of the lesser known myths.
Easy and fun to read. Kids who liked book similar to Percy Jackson will enjoy this book. It is a quick, fun read. I've always enjoyed Greek Mythology and enjoyed visiting these old friends.
Easy and fun to read. Kids who liked book similar to Percy Jackson will enjoy this book. It is a quick, fun read. I've always enjoyed Greek Mythology and enjoyed visiting these old friends.
I recently read this book for english studies. It iss very informitive on the subject of its title. I found the gods/goddess' and myths very interesting and it intrigued me. Some of the traditions and the stories and values each of them had, was mind blowing! I wouldnt read this in my free time, but for a research book, its very interesting.
At first, this book was very interesting, considering I had no previous knowledge of the greek gods and/or myths. About three quarters of the way through it though, I had to push to finish the book. It may have been because I ordered some new books that were sitting on my shelf waiting to be read but it was good overall.
A wonderful introduction to Greek mythology. It goes through the main gods, the nature myths (Echo & Narcissus, Pandora), the demigods (Perseus & Atlanta), and fables (King Midas). Evslin tells these timeless tales in a way that holds the reader and yet is faithful to the original Greek. A great little book.
This book was amazing because Im a person who likes to read books about greek mythology, and i love how the book has their own stories for each god, and how the books all end up tying together (mostly), and how they explain in great detail how they came to be, and what they are the god of, etc.
Just basic stories of a bunch of stuff in Greek Mythology! I LOOOOVVVEEEE the Percy Jackson (Rick Riordan) series, and those books got me REALLY interested in Greek Mythology! So I got this book, and it's actually REALLY interesting! I really like it and I recommend it for all!
I found this particular book to be a little better than adequate. While I think this is a good little pocket reference guide for a quick and dirt source for Greek mythology, it is certainly missing quite a bit. With that said, for what it is and what it is supposed to be, it does the job.
Mythology, I've always enjoyed, especially Roman and Greek; and this books has it all. If you like learning about the creation of the gods and there sons, daughters, affairs, plus their monsters and the heroes and their stories than this is the libro perfecto for you !
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Bernard Evslin was an author best known for his adaptations of Greek mythology. With over seventy titles, which include both novel-length retellings and short stories, Evslin is one of the most widely published authors of classical mythology in the world. His best-known work is Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths, which has sold more than ten million copies worldwide and has been translat...more
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