The readers can download Mythology Audiobook for free via Audible Free Trial.
Summary
Since its original publication by Little, Brown and Company in 1942, Edith Hamilton's Mythology has sold millions of copies throughout the world and established itself as a perennial bestseller in its various available formats. Mythology succeeds like no other audiobook in bringing to life for the modern reader the Greek, Roman, and Norse myths and legends that are the keystone of Western culture - the stories of gods and heroes that have inspired human creativity from antiquity to the present.
I had to read 'Mythology' for school and wasn't really thrilled about it, but it turned out to be pretty solid, especially towards the end where it focused on Norse mythology.
I enjoyed reading the book, although I felt that the section on Norse mythology was a bit thin. I get that Norse mythology isn't as extensive as Greek mythology, but it would have been nice if the author had discussed Beowulf and the Nibelungenlied at least.
When I was a kid, I was really impressed by a children's version of Edith Hamilton's Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes (1942). It had all those memorable stories like Orpheus looking back at Eurydice, Hercules wearing a poisoned love shirt, Narcissus gazing at his reflection while ignoring Echo, and more. Now, as an adult, I am impressed all over again reading the original text. Robert Graves might be more thorough in his retelling, but Hamilton does a good job of telling the stories and providing a comprehensive overview of the myths. She even includes the Norse myths, although more briefly compared to the Greek ones. The book is divided into different parts, covering topics like the gods and creation, stories of love and adventure, the great heroes, the heroes of the Trojan War, the great families of mythology, the less important myths, and the mythology of the Norsemen.
In the introduction, Hamilton explains the difficulty of compiling a collection of Greek myths, comparing it to telling the history of English literature from Chaucer to Kipling. She introduces her sources and acknowledges that instead of creating a unified whole, she aims to give readers an idea of what the myths are like. Throughout the book, Hamilton shares her thoughts on the ancient sources she chose or excluded, often adding her spicy opinions. She does seem to have a bias against Ovid, but still uses his versions of myths because they are often the most complete. Hamilton also provides interesting insights and information sprinkled throughout the book. For example, there is little magic in Greek myths, Zeus' many lovers derive from the merging of smaller weaker cultures with Greek culture, and the Romans viewed war differently from the earlier Greeks.
Hamilton's chapter on Hercules is particularly noteworthy, highlighting the hero's stupidity, cockiness, strength, and need to self-punish. The book is also beautifully illustrated by Steele Savage, with dramatic and stylized artwork that effectively complements Hamilton's stories.
Audiobook reader Suzanne Toren does a good job of narrating the myths, adjusting her voice to suit the characters and maintaining a clear understanding of the text. Hamilton's writing style is simple yet occasionally soars with intense passages from ancient sources, which adds to the overall impact of her retellings. Readers who prefer livelier renditions of myths may enjoy Stephen Fry's Heroes: The Greek Myths Reimagined, but I personally prefer Hamilton's direct and dignified style.
Loading...
3 comments
Or use one of these social networks