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Myth retellings

27 replies

Limegreendress · 17/08/2025 12:10

I have just read and loved a couple of books by Jennifer Saint. Can anybody recommend similar books?

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DisforDarkChocolate · 17/08/2025 12:11

Have you looked at Natalie Haynes? Children of Jocasta is fantastic as are several others, especially 1000 Ships.

ResidentPorker · 17/08/2025 12:13

Pat Barker’s trilogy is fantastic.

ResidentPorker · 17/08/2025 12:14

And yes to Natalie Haynes, she’s great.

SereneSunrise · 17/08/2025 12:16

Galetea by Madeline Miller (short story, beautiful mini hardback book)

Pandora by Susan Stokes-Chapman (I couldn’t get into this one, but Jennifer Saint endorsed it on the cover)

DisforDarkChocolate · 17/08/2025 12:22

I'd second Madelene Miller, her The Song of Achilles is brilliant. I didn't want to put it down but at the same time it was so moving I needed to stop.

Limegreendress · 17/08/2025 12:22

Those sound great, I have read Pat Barker and loved but will have a look at Natalie Haynes

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CrossPurposes · 17/08/2025 12:22

I enjoyed both Natalie Haynes and Jessie Burton's takes on Medusa.

LeeshaPaper · 17/08/2025 12:26

Savage Her Reply by Deirdre Sullivan is an amazing book. One of the best I've ever read (I read a LOT).
It's a retelling of the Children of Lir - an Irish legend - from the point of view of the evil stepmother who turned the children into swans. If you're not familiar with the Children of Lir maybe read it first. It's just a couple of pages long.
Brilliant book

Notmaintain · 17/08/2025 13:18

"Mythology" by Edith Hamilton. It's not a novel, so it might not be what you're looking for. But she goes back to Greek literature and re-tells the myths in a very clear way.

Kurkara · 17/08/2025 13:41

I love, love, love Jeanetter Winterson's "Weight: The Myth of Atlas." It's a novella, though.
I have a feeling that's part of a series, each myth done by a different author?

Dappy777 · 17/08/2025 23:06

I loved Iris Murdoch’s novel The Green Knight, which is a modern re-telling of the Arthurian myth of Gawain and the green knight.

EarlNeedsAHome · 17/08/2025 23:45

Third recommendation for Madeline Miller - I really enjoyed Circe and The Song of Achilles. Didn't enjoy Pat Barker quite as much but I've only read The Silence of the Girls from that trilogy.

VorChina · 20/08/2025 10:44

I’ve just started Medea by Rosie Hewlett. Am reading it for the online bookclub someone posted on MN a few months ago.

Loving the book - Rosie is coming to the zoom meeting to discuss her book - can’t wait!

VorChina · 20/08/2025 10:45

Dappy777 · 17/08/2025 23:06

I loved Iris Murdoch’s novel The Green Knight, which is a modern re-telling of the Arthurian myth of Gawain and the green knight.

Have this on my TBR - will shuffle it to the front! Thanks for the recommendation!

VorChina · 20/08/2025 10:46

Limegreendress · 17/08/2025 12:22

Those sound great, I have read Pat Barker and loved but will have a look at Natalie Haynes

Love, love Natalie Haynes. She does a brilliant podcast.

VorChina · 20/08/2025 10:48

CrossPurposes · 17/08/2025 12:22

I enjoyed both Natalie Haynes and Jessie Burton's takes on Medusa.

Edited

Ooh - the Jessie Burton is a new one on me ( really enjoyed The Miniaturist). Will look it up today

Limegreendress · 20/08/2025 12:43

VorChina · 20/08/2025 10:44

I’ve just started Medea by Rosie Hewlett. Am reading it for the online bookclub someone posted on MN a few months ago.

Loving the book - Rosie is coming to the zoom meeting to discuss her book - can’t wait!

What online bookClub is this? I would love to join one - what sort of things do yu do?

OP posts:
Dappy777 · 20/08/2025 12:55

VorChina · 20/08/2025 10:45

Have this on my TBR - will shuffle it to the front! Thanks for the recommendation!

If you feel like it, I’d recommend reading Simon Armitage’s translation of The Green Knight first. It’s pretty short. I have only just got into Iris Murdoch, but immediately decided she is my favourite novelist of all time! In the last few months I’ve read seven of her novels. Most of them are better known than The Green Knight (which is one of her last works, just before dementia closed in, poor lady). But even though the critics rave on about The Sea, the Sea and The Bell, I think The Green Knight is the one I enjoyed most. I sat up until one in the morning because I wanted to know what happened. Had a migraine the next day, but no regrets. Hope you enjoy it 😀

efeslight · 20/08/2025 15:00

Joining the thread as I am interested in finding some new ideas for my book pile!

ProfessionalTeaDrinker · 21/08/2025 07:47

VorChina · 20/08/2025 10:46

Love, love Natalie Haynes. She does a brilliant podcast.

I love her podcast! She makes the classics hilarious!

twistyizzy · 21/08/2025 07:49

DD obsessed with Natalie Haynes and also rates Pat Barker and Madeleine Miller. She is planning to do her EPQ on the feminist re-tellings of Greek Myths.

PestoHoliday · 21/08/2025 08:08

Agree with Pat Barker and Natalie Hayes being brilliant. Jennifer Saint is good too.

Claire North's trilogy Ithaca, House of Odysseus and Last Song Of Penelope are great. They are about what happened on Odysseus's home island when all the strong men left 20 years ago for the war.

Penelope and her women managing the island - and subverting what the old blokes and the arrogant young men who were boys when the Trojan wars started deem acceptable for lowly women. It's absolutely fantastic.

desperatelyseekingcaffeine · 21/08/2025 08:14

Juliet Marillier does beautiful retellings of Irish myths. Seven waters series is based on the children of Lir and is one of my favourite ever series.

granhands1 · 21/08/2025 09:36

Book marking as this is right up my street, I always loved Once and Future King by T H White.

mimbleandlittlemy · 21/08/2025 10:26

Love Natalie Haynes (new book coming out about Jason and Medea in a couple of weeks and seeing her live in Oxford - fan girl excited!), Madeleine Miller, Pat Barker and Jennifer Saint. Always sad not to see Claire North's name on these lists, if talking about Greek myth retelling, as her Penelope trilogy, The Songs of Odysseus, is superb.

There's also nothing like reading the actual The Iliad and The Odyssey - Emily Watson's two translations are totally gripping. Margaret Atwood's Penelopiad is a quick, slightly depressing, read. I found Colm Toibin's The House of Names a bit chilly, but it's an intelligent read.

Greek Myths by Charlotte Higgins gives a really good over arcing view of many Greek myths. Ted Hughes' Tales from Ovid is as fantastic as you'd expect from a poet of his ability. The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony by Roberto Calasso is more about the philosophy of myth but excellent.

Worth listening to the myth episodes of Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics on BBC Sounds.

I absolutely hate all Stephen Fry's versions.

Mary Stewart's Arthurian books still hold up: start with The Crystal Cave followed by The Hollow Hills, The Last Enchantment and The Wicked Day.

Can't think of anything else at the moment, but if it comes to me, I'll be back.