Greek mythology

[drinkyourmilk]

Can anyone please recommend a book either about or based on Greek mythology please? Fiction or none - fiction , either is fine.

[CheersMedea]

Depends what you want it for and who the audience is.

For an adult, you can't go far wrong with Robert Graves classic work on the greek myths.

For a child, this is a nice book:

www.goodreads.com/book/show/107186.Gods_Men_Monsters_from_the_Greek_Myths

[Salmiak]

I really loved gods behaving badly. Its fiction. Definitely for adults though, not children.

[magimedi]

The Song of Achilles .

One of the best written books I've ever read.

www.amazon.co.uk/Song-Achilles-Madeline-Miller/dp/1408821982/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1447345482&sr=1-1&keywords=the%20song%20of%20achilles&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21


But only 1 legend/myth - not the lot.

[hackmum]

I'd second the Song of Achilles.

I've also read a couple of kids' books on the Greek myths, can't remember what they're called, though. I have the Robert Graves book but haven't read it!

I ploughed through the Iliad a couple of years ago, which is OK if you've got the time (not a ringing endorsement, I know).

[tripfiction]

Books by Mary Renault?

[hopelesslydevotedtoGu]

I've just borrowed the Infinities by John Banville from the library, it is a fictional story I think with Greek gods watching events on modern day earth, but I haven't started it yet.

[Sadik]

I thought the Song of Achilles was OK, but not a patch on Mary Renault's novels. My two favourites are The King Must Die and The Bull from the Sea.

[carlajean]

Totally agree with Sadik

[Footle]

Myths are mostly a bit fictional.

[CoteDAzur]

Ilium by Dan Simmons

[drinkyourmilk]

Thanks everyone. It's for my dh who doesn't read, but loves Greek mythology, so I'm trying to encourage him.

[FishWithABicycle]

Mary Renault's The Bull From The Sea and The King Must Die are wonderful re-imaginings of the story of Theseus.

[Loraline]

Agree about the Mary Renault books. SO SO good on the Theseus myth. Also enjoyed Song of Achilles but not as much

[Cooroo]

Try an amazing Audiobook called Metamorphoses by Hugh Lupton and Daniel Morden. Beautiful retelling of Ovid. And definitely Mary Renault.

[cdtaylornats]

www.goodreads.com/list/show/92468.Greek_Hellenic_Myth_Inspired_Speculative_Fiction

Just noticed the above list

[CheersMedea]

This is a lovely book. It's about the Minotaur - who end up as a line chef in modern southern USA. Highly recommend. Very unusual and moving.


www.amazon.co.uk/Minotaur-Takes-Cigarette-Break/dp/184195487X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1447775257&sr=8-1&keywords=The%20Minotaur%20Takes%20a%20Cigarette%20Break&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21