Additional Reading and Sources

mrferrell

Here’s a list of some of the references I’ve used for class, for sources of reading texts and otherwise.

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Edith Hamilton’s Mythology

This book has been a staple of college Mythology courses (and sometimes Freshman Comp.) for ages now. It’s a good basic reference to have on hand, if you like basic references. It contains information and stories about each of the major gods, and retellings of a bunch of myths and major dramas, as well as stories of the Trojan war, and many more. A brief overview of Norse mythology is thrown in at no extra charge.

If you’re ever at McKay’s, you can usually find a bunch of dog-eared copies for about $1 or so. Or check the bargain bins at your favorite big box bookstore. You can also find this one in the RCHS Library. 😁

About Edith Hamilton
Edith Hamilton’s Mythology on Amazon.com

mrferrell

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Ovid’s Metamorphoses

A new translation by Charles Martin

This is the book our Ovid selections come from. I have very little scholarly insight in this matter, but I really like this translation. I think if you’re looking for your own copy of the Metamorphoses, you could certainly do worse.

Of special interest is Martin’s “Note on Translation” at the beginning, where he goes into some detail about the challenges of translating Ovid, and how he chose to deal with them.

About Ovid
Ovid’s Metamorphoses on Amazon.com

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Heroes, Gods, and Monsters of the Greek Myths

by Bernard Evslin

I’ve taken several selections Evslin’s book. It’s a decent, general-interest paperback collection of tales that would be a decent addition to any mythology bookshelf. He includes descriptions of the main gods, some nature myths, and the stories of Perseus, Theseus, Atalanta, and Daedalus and Icarus, among others.

Evslin’s Heroes, Gods, and Monsters of the Greek Myths on Amazon.com

mrferrell

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D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths

by Ingrid and Edgar d’Aulaire

We read a few selections from the d’Aulaires’ book, as well. This collection brings back fond memories for many folks, because it’s a book they encountered in childhood. Indeed, this husband and wife team collaborated on many books for children, including a compendium of Norse mythology as well as this.

D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths on Amazon.com

mrferrell

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Gods, Men & Monsters from the Greek Myths

by Michael Gibson

I’ve taken some of our longer “hero” selections from Gibson’s book. A solid collection of stories, like the d’Aulaires’, geared for younger readers—middle school or so. But certainly a good resource, nonetheless. The illustrations by Giovanni Caselli are by far worth the price of admission. It’s out of print, though, so if you’d like to add this to your collection, you’ll need to poke around used booksellers.

Gods, Men & Monsters from the Greek Myths (used and new) on Amazon.com

mrferrell

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Bullfinch’s Mythology

by Thomas Bullfinch

Until Edith Hamilton came along, Bullfinch’s Mythology was pretty much the standard non-scholars and “normal folks” used to brush up on their mythology. What’s often sold as Bullfinch’s Mythology is actually three books collected into one volume: The Age of Fable—retellings of Greek and Roman myths; The Age of Chivalry—stories about King Arthur; and Legends of Charlemagne—tales of the fictional/historical Charlemagne and paladins. To make things a little more confusing, the texts are well out of copyright, so anyone with a printing press and some paper can publish and sell their own Bullfinch.

It’s a pretty swell resource to have, though, despite its artificial, 1800’s era “thee’s” and “thou’s” to make the stories sound old and dignified. I actually find it kind of charming in Bullfinch. If nothing else, it’s a book worth having for the Arthurian stuff, and other Celtic/Welsh tales. And I’ve never found the Charlemagne stories anywhere else, and they’re great. In any event, you can sometimes find copies at bookstores on the bargain tables. I think I got my hardback version at a Barnes & Noble for about six bucks. The handsome leather-bound volume pictured above is about $17 on Amazon. I may order one, myself. 💸

Bullfinch’s Mythology (leather-bound) on Amazon.com
Bullfinch’s Greek and Roman Mythology (Dover thrift edition) on Amazon.com
Bullfinch’s Mythology, kind of readable online at Bartleby.com

mrferrell

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Mythos

by Stephen Fry

This recent collection (he’s done a volume called Heroes and Troy, as well) by well-respected British actor, comedian, TV host, documentarian, etc. Stephen Fry features contemporary retellings of all of the favorites, and more. He’s got quite a chirpy tone, for sure, which works most of the time and sometimes falls flat (for me at least). But if you’re looking to read through a range of Greek myths in some detail, you can’t go wrong with this one! (Oh, it’s in our school library, as well.)

Mythos on Amazon.com