Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes, 75th Anniversary Illustrated Edition

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Great, no damage. Recommended.

Para mí, es el mejor libro sobre mitología grecorromana y nórdica (tengo varios). Escrito por una de las más mundialmente reconocidas clasicistas, no es demasiado enredado, contiene todas las historias más importantes y conocidas, todas claramente contadas, además de explicaciones y comentarios. Me regaló mi papá la versión en tapa blanda cuando tenía yo como 8 años. Tengo 69 y todavía la tengo, pero está casi completamente desbaratada y por eso decidí comprar esta edición publicada en el 75 aniversario del libro. Seguramente el libro ha sido traducido, pero no puedo opinar sobre la traducción.

Read about 50 pages and matches what i expected. Describes the roman/greek gods and matches them, then goes into some origin stories

One has to go back in time to find genuine depictions of classical Europe. Indeed this book from the 40s gives a superb view of Greek Mythology (includes also Roman and Norse). One could buy it as a future museum piece because very soon books with these production standards could be rarities. The book has thick hard cover, with thick quality pages, beautiful strong colour plates and stitch binding. It is a joy to hold in your hands and read it. It is a book for a lifetime. My copy arrived in excellent condition and I surely understand those that protest for damaged book delivery. Such a beauty deserves to be unscathed. Even more impressive however is its content. The author has understood the very essence of Greek mythology. In the introduction it lays clearly the key facts about Hellenic mythology: (1) it is not fables but oral transfer of true events (2) part of it is also pure literature but it is not difficult to identify the literature from factual parts, (3) the cosmos made the gods and not the other way around, (4) Greek myths are rational without magic or fear of the world: the only two witches Circe and Medea are beautiful, attractive women and interesting characters, (5) women are as important as men in the Greek myths and the feminine nature is propelled to a major force in shaping world and society without which the world would not be viable (6) there is no mysticism but rather a fresh love of the natural, the visual and the beautiful: monsters are codenames for volcanoes, earthquakes and other geological phenomena not parts of social life, (7) the myths promote upright ethics, heroism and the idea of a meaningful life, (8) they excite reader's imagination without being fairy tales or unrealistic: realism and imagination go hand in hand. One could add many more but overall in this book one can see clearly the basis of a civilisation that was destined to become great and provide Europe with its mind and soul. A perfect gift for young and adult readership. My only complaint is that in her effort to make it light reading perhaps, the author avoided the full range of Greek names and other details in the myths, when she should have kept them and even expand on them with a bit of etymology. Yet it would be unfair not to consider it perfect for what it does, which explains that it continues to sell 80 years after its first publication: how many books can boast such an achievement?

Arrived with scratch marks on the dust cover and dents on the front and back.

All of the mythology is, of course, available more cheaply on the internet and in paperback form. But, if your thing, is enjoying a beautifully bound, illustrated, and worded book—one that you don’t have to bid big bucks for at a rare first edition auction—then this is a pleasant alternative.