On the one hand, the literary category known as the “retelling” is pretty straightforward. It’s a new version of an older story, usually a classic or well-known older story—think mythology, fairy tales, Shakespeare, like that.
 
On the other hand, retellings can be infinitely strange and slippery as authors come up with wildly creative ways to approach old stories. The retelling might switch up setting or genre, style or narrative point of view. The idea is to bring out new facets in old works, prompt a reexamination, or sometimes just have some fun.
 
The collection we’ve assembled below—an uncommonly big one—is dedicated to the art of retellings. We’ve collected 204 (!) books from various genres, sorted instead by source material: Greek and Roman mythology, canonical classics, Arthurian legends, world folktales and fairy tales, the Bard.
 
We’ve got old classics and brand-new specimens in the mix, plus a few authors who specialize in retellings. You’ll also find some intriguing genre juxtapositions on offer: 16th-century romance next to queer horror next to android sci-fi. Plus a Pulitzer Prize winner or two.
 
Click on the book cover images for more information about each title. You can also use the Want to Read button to assemble your digital shelf of retellings.