The twelve labours of Hercules

by Robert Newman

To marry the woman he loves, Hercules must complete twelve challenging tasksHercules, son of Zeus, is known as the greatest hero Greece has ever seen. But it takes more than a godly parent to create a hero. This is the tale of how one man becomes a hero and that hero becomes a god. Soon before Hercules’s birth, Zeus, ruler of the gods, declares that his son will one day be the high king of Mycenae. When his jealous wife, Hera, tricks Zeus to ensure that Hercules will never be king, Zeus decrees that his son will perform deeds so glorious that his name will be remembered forever. As Hercules grows up, however, Hera is always one step ahead. To rid Hercules of the consequences of Hera’s spite, he is tasked with completing twelve labors by the person he dislikes most in the world—Eurystheus, the ruler of Mycenae, who stole Hercules’s birthright to become king. Hercules is determined to finish the twelve labors so he can marry the princess he loves. But Eurystheus, resentful of Hercules’s fame, is just as intent on making the tasks impossible to complete. Hercules believes he is up to the challenge, but it may cost him everything he holds dear.

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Mr. Newman, who was born in Manhattan, began his career as a writer for radio shows. In 1944, he was in charge of the radio portion of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's re-election campaign. He also wrote ''Search for Tomorrow'' and ''Peyton Place'' episodes for television.

From 1973 to 1988, he wrote books for young people, including ''The Case of the Baker Street Irregular,'' published by Atheneum in 1978, and many novels.

Reviews

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for my children's fantasy project, but these are really adventure stories, as Hercules travels the ancient Greek world slaying monsters. Newman keeps the pace fast and that sense of adventure front and center, while staying true to the source material.

[Norain · Rating 3 out of 5]

The twelve labours made simple, or rather, straight to the point.

[monotasker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t remember anything about the stories in this version. But Charles Keeping’s haunting ink illustrations disturbed and captivated me when I was six years old. They have stayed lodged deep in my memory and formed my imagination profoundly.

[Sandra Brant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this for background for a discussion group next month. Gives a good foundation of the life of Hercules without all the Disney nonsense.

[Roberto · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hercules for kids.