Mumsnet Talk

Not sure if this should be here or non-fiction!

I'm after some recommendations for books on Greek myths and legends, starting from the basics.

Preferably in a story format rather than a studious format.

Thanks!

Tales of the Greek Heroes by Roger Lancelyn Green is a classic and probably not a bad place to start - very accessible versions of the Greek myths written for young people.

Song of Achilles, while not your basic retelling is wonderful, and you should give it a go after you've covered the basics.

PS - I was assuming you meant for yourself. It's definitely not one for the children.

Will add that to my list thanks!

No, more for me to read. I was fascinated as a child, and just finished reading the Percy Jackson books which inspired me to try to find stuff; but the local bookshop is also the Uni shop, so stuff in there is a bit dry.

Yes, the Roger Lancelyn Green book is good, as is James Baldwin's The Greek Myths and Legends for Children. I also agree that Song of Achilles is very enjoyable.

Robert Graves also published retellings of the Greek myths but I've never read them so don't know what they're like.

Robert Graves is the classic

Lancelyn Green is good so is the Usbourne one

Just looked at the 'Look Inside' Amazon feature on the Usbourne one. Most of the pages shown are the reference 'Whos who' pages at the back. Don't be put off. The book itself is heavily illustrated. Its the one I read the most when I was younger before I moved onto Graves (and ended up with a degree in Ancient History )

I found this a brilliant introduction.

I have never known much about Greek Mythology but recently read Song of Achilles which I loved and now I want more! I would definitely start there Carpe. I'd also love some recommendations for more of the same, rather than more textbook type retelling. From looking at amazon it seems like Robert Graves is more like the latter - anyone know any others?

Thanks for all the great suggestions - my Amazon wishlist has suddenly expanded dramatically

Will keep my fingers that DH Santa takes the hint!

Mary Renault - the king must die and the bull from the sea about Theseus.
Songs on bronze - Greek myths retold by Nigel spivey

How about the Ted Hughes 'Tales from Ovid' a retelling of Ovid's Metamorphoses. It's poetry but you wouldn't really notice a difference.

There's a really good modern translation of The Iliad by Robert Fagles (Penguin Classics) which is absolutely gripping - very bloody/robust but absolutely gripping. I'd definitely read that before you read Song of Achilles which I loved too. Would also second Mary Renault and Ted Hughes' Tales from Ovid.

GeraldineMumsnet - how exciting! Thanks for pointing that out.

mimble - and thanks for that recommendation. Have been meaning to read the Iliad for a while but wasn't sure which was the best translation.

Richmond Lattimore's translations of the Iliad and Odyssey are also excellent, Fagles is more modern, Lattimore is closer to the original Greek and is more poetic. Both are very good (I have both, the lattimore versions also have excellent companion explanatory volumes that explain it all as you go along).

These have already been suggested but I second Tales From Ovid and the Fagles translations of Iliad and Odyssey both of which I loved. I had never read epic poetry before but didn't find them hard work (although the fighting and dying in the Iliad is visceral). Ted Hughes' poems in Tales from Ivid are beautiful.

Ovid not Ivid.

Parthenon and a bit of fiction? It sets the scene for how the Elgin Marbles arrived in Britain.
Stealing Athena by Karen Essex

Robert Graves is a great introduction, and if you want a fictionalised approach I second Mary Renault's The Bull from the Sea and the King Must Die (as well as her other ones). I love them. Surely I can't be the only person who thought The Shield of Achilles was crap?

sorry Song of Achilles, not Shield

Homer's Odyssey is fab but it does depend on the translation how readable it is.