Greek Mythology

8 replies

Fishslice23stuck · 25/04/2026 20:55

Any good introductory books?

OP posts:

Reader19 · 26/04/2026 19:03

Do you mean a secondary introduction or a collection of myths? Graves is good if you want a bit of both.

Ovid's Metamorphoses is wonderful (myths wittily woven together). Ovid was a Roman poet but in a good translation they are fresh and readable. Stephanie McCarter's recent translation is good and sets the myths out more episodically than some others, so it's easy to dip into.

ReturnofthePan · 26/04/2026 00:43

Another Natalie Haynes recommendation.

Aworldofmyown · 25/04/2026 22:23

Song of Achilles and Circe are excellent.

JoanThursday · 25/04/2026 22:18

For fiction, you could try Madeline Miller for retellings / reimaginings of the myths, eg The Song of Achilles. Also Pat Barker: The Silence of the Girls and The Women of Troy.

Emily Wilson has translated Homer's Odyssey (and now, I think, the Iliad too). Very accessible, using modern language, but still poetic.

Dappy777 · 25/04/2026 22:00

Robert Graves wrote a brilliant book on the Greek myths. I love Stephen Fry, but I’d recommend the Graves book over Fry.

EmpressaurusKitty · 25/04/2026 21:08

Another vote for Natalie Haynes. Her Natalie Haynes stands up for the Classics podcast is great too.

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 25/04/2026 21:06

Natalie Haynes. Pandora's Jar and Divine Might are great. Then all her wonderful retellings too!

Highonmyownsupply · 25/04/2026 21:03

Didn’t Stephen Fry write one a few years ago? Mythos.

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