Subtitled ‘Beyond Mount Olympus’, this small book is a short introduction to the broad and complex area of the Greek Myths.
A bold undertaking to attempt to condense centuries of myth and legend, featuring a myriad heroes, gods, goddesses, nymphs and satyrs, this slim volume does its best. Inevitably it is superficial and, at times, inaccurate, but it does the job intended: introduces readers without knowledge to the classical subject. Impossible in a book of this nature to capture the enormous range of the subject, but there should be enough teasers to tempt some into reading the subject more fully.
A little more effort over editing would have been appreciated, and some sentence structure needs adjusting. But the general content is good for the number of words used.
I selected this particular volume from the broad range supplied by this organisation, as the previous book I’d chosen dealt with a subject entirely unknown to me. I have some knowledge of the Greek Myths, however, having read the Iliad and the Odyssey, as well as learning about the subject during my schooling: an almost inescapable topic at the time for schools in England!
Whilst these books may not be for me, as a writer, I can see how they would be attractive to the modern generation in search of a quick introduction to a range of subjects. This approach to quick learning is growing in popularity and I suppose anything that increases the urge to read must be better than nothing.
[Any review is a personal opinion. No reviewer can represent the view of anyone else. The best we can manage is an honest reaction to any given book.]
Stuart Aken 
Thanks Stuart, it is a fascinating and so very imaginative belief system
However, as religion they are far from the oldest. There are many views and among them Shamanism is high on the agenda. I think it goes beyond that.
One thing is interesting , man has always sought something higher than himself.
Miriam
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Oh, I think you’re right about religion as an ancient human need. There have been relatively recent finds in some of the Neanderthal caves that indicate these ancient primates conducted some sort of ceremonies that may have been spiritual in origin. And, of course, each civilisation has generally taken something of the religion from its predecessor. Certtainly, there’s evidence that shamanism is ancient, probably pre-dating recorded history by millennia.
I suspect the initial need arose once intelligence developed enough to ask those searching questions to which the ancients had no answers. Now we have science, the place of religion is understandably seriously undermined, but it willl take a long time for faiths of all sorts to be replaced with reason and a rational approach, I imagine.
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We also had to study Greek mythology in school and I have since read a number of volumes out of interest. It is such an enormous subject as you point out
and has almost a fairytale feel at times. Very wise too.
I am sure the book will find its market place.
miriam
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Thanks, Delphini. I’m sure you’re right about the book finding its market place.
It’s a while since I delved into the subject, but I’ve read a good deal over the years. Fascinating; and the insight into the minds and thoughts of those ancient minds creating that pntheon of gods is very informative about how religions come to be, I think.
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