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Classical Mythology: Myths and Legends of the Ancient World
Travel back to a time when divine beings mixed with mortals, when heroes battled sorcerers, and nature was a mysterious realm ruled by beautiful and dangerous deities.From the legends of Hercules and the Titans, to tales of the underworld and the destruction of Troy, these enduring myths have formed a major part of Western culture for millennia and continue to capture our imaginations today.Beautifully illustrated with dramatic scenes from master artists of the 16th through to the 19th century, this elegant collection contains more than 40 fascinating tales retold by a variety of expert storytellers.
411 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2018
37 people are currently reading
198 people want to read
About the author
Nathaniel Hawthorne
5,347 books3,511 followersNathaniel Hawthorne was a 19th century American novelist and short story writer. He is seen as a key figure in the development of American literature for his tales of the nation's colonial history.
Shortly after graduating from Bowdoin College, Hathorne changed his name to Hawthorne. Hawthorne anonymously published his first work, a novel titled Fanshawe, in 1828. In 1837, he published Twice-Told Tales and became engaged to painter and illustrator Sophia Peabody the next year. He worked at a Custom House and joined a Transcendentalist Utopian community, before marrying Peabody in 1842. The couple moved to The Old Manse in Concord, Massachusetts, later moving to Salem, the Berkshires, then to The Wayside in Concord. The Scarlet Letter was published in 1850, followed by a succession of other novels. A political appointment took Hawthorne and family to Europe before returning to The Wayside in 1860. Hawthorne died on May 19, 1864, leaving behind his wife and their three children.
Much of Hawthorne's writing centers around New England and many feature moral allegories with a Puritan inspiration. His work is considered part of the Romantic movement and includes novels, short stories, and a biography of his friend, the United States President Franklin Pierce.
Shortly after graduating from Bowdoin College, Hathorne changed his name to Hawthorne. Hawthorne anonymously published his first work, a novel titled Fanshawe, in 1828. In 1837, he published Twice-Told Tales and became engaged to painter and illustrator Sophia Peabody the next year. He worked at a Custom House and joined a Transcendentalist Utopian community, before marrying Peabody in 1842. The couple moved to The Old Manse in Concord, Massachusetts, later moving to Salem, the Berkshires, then to The Wayside in Concord. The Scarlet Letter was published in 1850, followed by a succession of other novels. A political appointment took Hawthorne and family to Europe before returning to The Wayside in 1860. Hawthorne died on May 19, 1864, leaving behind his wife and their three children.
Much of Hawthorne's writing centers around New England and many feature moral allegories with a Puritan inspiration. His work is considered part of the Romantic movement and includes novels, short stories, and a biography of his friend, the United States President Franklin Pierce.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 12, 2018
3.5 stars
This is a pretty old fashioned, but interesting collection of classical myth, told via stories, poetry, and art. Each tale is very much a product of its time- those looking for punchy or more accessibly modern versions will need to look elsewhere- but they are still an enjoyable read and include some of the best known Greek and Roman myths.
The real winner is the inclusion of art. A note at the beginning of the Netgalley version says that the image quality has been reduced, that the plates/pictures are lower quality than in the real book. Here, they're in black and white and are easy enough to see, but I'm not sure if that means they'll be in colour in the retail version. If they are, i'll be upping the stars, because their inclusion is one of the true positives of this book. When looking at myth, the ways in which it has been imagined and reimagined is so important, and that includes various artworks as much as in written forms. In any case, I looked up the pictures online to see the colour versions, but it would have been nicer to have them in the book.
For me, an individual who studies Classics and myth, this is a really helpful and thought provoking collection that shows ways in which the representation of myths have changed and been variously presented. For those looking for a good general introduction, I think i'd chose something a bit more modern, language wise, especially if there are colour prints.
ARC via Netgalley
This is a pretty old fashioned, but interesting collection of classical myth, told via stories, poetry, and art. Each tale is very much a product of its time- those looking for punchy or more accessibly modern versions will need to look elsewhere- but they are still an enjoyable read and include some of the best known Greek and Roman myths.
The real winner is the inclusion of art. A note at the beginning of the Netgalley version says that the image quality has been reduced, that the plates/pictures are lower quality than in the real book. Here, they're in black and white and are easy enough to see, but I'm not sure if that means they'll be in colour in the retail version. If they are, i'll be upping the stars, because their inclusion is one of the true positives of this book. When looking at myth, the ways in which it has been imagined and reimagined is so important, and that includes various artworks as much as in written forms. In any case, I looked up the pictures online to see the colour versions, but it would have been nicer to have them in the book.
For me, an individual who studies Classics and myth, this is a really helpful and thought provoking collection that shows ways in which the representation of myths have changed and been variously presented. For those looking for a good general introduction, I think i'd chose something a bit more modern, language wise, especially if there are colour prints.
ARC via Netgalley
April 25, 2020
| Reader Fox Blog |
I’m a pretty avid fan of mythology, though my specific love happens to be for those of the Greek variety. Naturally, when I saw this book was available I coulnd’t help myself. Classical Mythology by James Shepherd is pretty amazing. It does follow a very similar pattern to many other books detailing the same stories—and believe me, there are a lot of them—but where the books I’m used to really only focus on one specific set of stories, I felt that this one encompassed a great many more that just made the reading experience a lot more enjoyable.
I was over the moon when I got about halfway through the book and realized that the stories surrounding Troy were included in this collection of mythology tales. Troy has long since been a story that I’ve absolutely adored for the characters and the tragedy and ironically enough I’ve never really found many books that include the tale. I recall all the usual very strong emotions I feel for the characters of Troy once more and enjoyed every second of it.
Admittedly, this collection did have one thing that I found myself vaguely annoyed by, though this is purely on a personal level and I don’t imagine it irritating everyone else. I didn’t like the fact that Shepherd chose to refer to the gods as their Roman names. Jupiter, Venus, Pluto, and Neptune are just not the ways I want to read about Zeus, Aphrodite, Hades, and Poseidon. I’ve avoided Roman mythology so much so that I genuinely found myself somewhat confused at first and, had I not already known many of these stories, might not have remembered which god was which. Even Persephone, who is one of my favorites—partially because her name is similar to mine and thus really cool—becomes Proserpine.
So while I love and deeply appreciated reading this book, I imagine I’ll probably stick with the ones that use the Greek names for some of the stories.
I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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I’m a pretty avid fan of mythology, though my specific love happens to be for those of the Greek variety. Naturally, when I saw this book was available I coulnd’t help myself. Classical Mythology by James Shepherd is pretty amazing. It does follow a very similar pattern to many other books detailing the same stories—and believe me, there are a lot of them—but where the books I’m used to really only focus on one specific set of stories, I felt that this one encompassed a great many more that just made the reading experience a lot more enjoyable.
I was over the moon when I got about halfway through the book and realized that the stories surrounding Troy were included in this collection of mythology tales. Troy has long since been a story that I’ve absolutely adored for the characters and the tragedy and ironically enough I’ve never really found many books that include the tale. I recall all the usual very strong emotions I feel for the characters of Troy once more and enjoyed every second of it.
Admittedly, this collection did have one thing that I found myself vaguely annoyed by, though this is purely on a personal level and I don’t imagine it irritating everyone else. I didn’t like the fact that Shepherd chose to refer to the gods as their Roman names. Jupiter, Venus, Pluto, and Neptune are just not the ways I want to read about Zeus, Aphrodite, Hades, and Poseidon. I’ve avoided Roman mythology so much so that I genuinely found myself somewhat confused at first and, had I not already known many of these stories, might not have remembered which god was which. Even Persephone, who is one of my favorites—partially because her name is similar to mine and thus really cool—becomes Proserpine.
So while I love and deeply appreciated reading this book, I imagine I’ll probably stick with the ones that use the Greek names for some of the stories.
I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
| Instagram | Twitter | Reader Fox Blog | Bloglovin’ | Facebook |
November 4, 2018
Classical Mythology is an educational book on classical mythology which included lesser known mythological stories. Good content and illustrations.
I received an advanced review copy (ARC) of this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Synopsis from Publisher/NetGalley.com
Travel back to a time when divine beings mixed with mortals, when heroes battled sorcerers, and nature was a mysterious realm ruled by beautiful and dangerous deities.
These gods of Classical antiquity were far from ideal role models, their jealous pride and vengeful egos wrought havoc on the world, reflecting very human passions - and making for some truly compelling stories.
From the legends of Hercules and the Titans, to tales of the underworld and the destruction of Troy, this elegant collection contains more than 40 fascinating tales retold by a variety of expert storytellers.
Beautifully illustrated with dramatic scenes from master artists of the 16th through to the 19th century, these enduring myths have formed a major part of Western culture for millennia and continue to capture our imaginations today.
I received an advanced review copy (ARC) of this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Synopsis from Publisher/NetGalley.com
Travel back to a time when divine beings mixed with mortals, when heroes battled sorcerers, and nature was a mysterious realm ruled by beautiful and dangerous deities.
These gods of Classical antiquity were far from ideal role models, their jealous pride and vengeful egos wrought havoc on the world, reflecting very human passions - and making for some truly compelling stories.
From the legends of Hercules and the Titans, to tales of the underworld and the destruction of Troy, this elegant collection contains more than 40 fascinating tales retold by a variety of expert storytellers.
Beautifully illustrated with dramatic scenes from master artists of the 16th through to the 19th century, these enduring myths have formed a major part of Western culture for millennia and continue to capture our imaginations today.
June 20, 2020
This is a solid book on Greek and Roman mythology. I was expecting it to explain the various gods and goddesses in a textbook fashion but it read like a narrative as it includes the various individual stories.
There were some great gems in this one and some lesser known stories which I appreciated.
Happy reading, everybody!
There were some great gems in this one and some lesser known stories which I appreciated.
Happy reading, everybody!
April 7, 2023
This book was phenomenal! I have been wanting a collection of classical mythology as I have always been interested in the topic and this book was great for it! It had some popular stories and some I have never heard of before.
Overall, this is a great book and it will definitely be forever in my bookshelf!
Overall, this is a great book and it will definitely be forever in my bookshelf!
November 2, 2025
This was a fun book, interesting to hear the various Greek ledgends. They seem to have a theme some people are born lucky and it's important to keep your head down do your duty and not piss off the Gods.
The story of Europa was lovely as well as the man who swam everyday to the lighthouse until he died
The story of Europa was lovely as well as the man who swam everyday to the lighthouse until he died
November 17, 2018
A remarkable re telling of the classic myths. I appreciate how the author brought them to life once more. Great job!
May 14, 2025
⭐️⭐️.5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Greek mythology is NOT one of my hyperfixations, and it shows. I feel vapid saying this, but I think I would’ve enjoyed these more if they weren’t print media.
Greek mythology is NOT one of my hyperfixations, and it shows. I feel vapid saying this, but I think I would’ve enjoyed these more if they weren’t print media.
March 12, 2021
A nice collection of 30 classical mythology tales, beautifully illustrated.
The book includes well known Roman and Greek myths and a different interpretation of their symbols and moral. The tone of the book is a bit old-fashioned for me, I would definitely go for something with a more modern approach and language. Still, the illustration made it worthwhile!
It's a good book for someone who is a beginner or a newly fan of Greek and Roman mythology. It's a good introduction to the topic and gives a sort of base to go from the old to the new interpretations.
This is a pretty old fashioned, but interesting collection of classical myth, told via stories, poetry, and art. Each tale is very much a product of its time- those looking for punchy or more accessibly modern versions will need to look elsewhere- but they are still an enjoyable read and include some of the best known Greek and Roman myths.
The book includes well known Roman and Greek myths and a different interpretation of their symbols and moral. The tone of the book is a bit old-fashioned for me, I would definitely go for something with a more modern approach and language. Still, the illustration made it worthwhile!
It's a good book for someone who is a beginner or a newly fan of Greek and Roman mythology. It's a good introduction to the topic and gives a sort of base to go from the old to the new interpretations.
This is a pretty old fashioned, but interesting collection of classical myth, told via stories, poetry, and art. Each tale is very much a product of its time- those looking for punchy or more accessibly modern versions will need to look elsewhere- but they are still an enjoyable read and include some of the best known Greek and Roman myths.
October 12, 2018
Nothing new under the sun here. Pretty standard collection of various myths and legends. There are no major revelations on the background or genesis of the myths.
The greatest selling point are the images. They are stunning, and this from a non arty person! But they do lend some interest to an otherwise standard book. It may be more enjoyable to someone who is new to the genre, my degree is in classical history so maybe I'm just a bit over exposed to them!
The greatest selling point are the images. They are stunning, and this from a non arty person! But they do lend some interest to an otherwise standard book. It may be more enjoyable to someone who is new to the genre, my degree is in classical history so maybe I'm just a bit over exposed to them!
November 13, 2022
It was a nice review of those fantastic mythological stories. It contains varius very good narrated bits and beutiful artwork. Overall, it was great read.
July 12, 2020
Teally liked the short tales of love
October 5, 2018
As an introduction to basic mythology, this is a good collection. The stories are straightforward and easy to read, if a little dated. I think that a more modern, engaging narrative might have better served than such a dry delivery. Also, because so many tales are included in this volume, the stories are woefully short, almost clinically so. Something of the rich tapestry that draws us to myths and legends is lost here, but if passing familiarity is all you need then look no further.
November 1, 2018
Classical Mythology by James Shepherd is a collection of 50 Greek and Roman myths told by a variety of authors and is classical told and followed by a beautiful illustration from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Stories include such classics such as Pluto and Proserping, Deucalion and Pyrrha, Epimetheus and Pandora, Hercules and the Golden Apples, the Wooden Horse, Ulysses and Cyclops, Midas, Romulus and Remus, and many more. This is a good introduction to many of the classics.
November 17, 2018
A remarkable re telling of the classic myths. I appreciate how the author brought them to life once more. Great job!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews