Myth cover

Myth

Rating 4.5
Word count
211K words
Chapters
42
ISBN
9787572204029

Tags

Summary

Mythos and Heroes are the British comedy master and national treasure of audiobooks Stephen Fry's retellings of Greek myths for adults. In these books, Fry draws on his dual identity as actor and writer to re-map the Greek myths, threading them along dramatic lines, stripping away the stiffness and academic feel of Greek mythology and giving it richer plots, sharper personalities and an appealing cinematic quality. Mythos can be seen as an Avengers-style assembly of the Greek gods: Zeus and Prometheus are best buddies; Hermes is a mischief-maker full of bad ideas; Athena is a goddess blessed with both beauty and wisdom; Phaethon is an ostracized, self-doubting youth; Hera is a jealous queen at the top who makes it her mission to take down mistresses; each generation of gods is always overthrown by the next Avengers-like alliance; ... Greek mythology is a vast treasure house, and Stephen Fry is its witty guide, leading us to see just how fascinating and entertaining it can be.

Editor's review

With an actor's sense of rhythm and a writer's narrative craft, Stephen Fry liberates Greek myth from the textbook. The gods are no longer cold symbols but characters with tempers, schemes and flaws, and generational conflict and power shifts play out like a serial drama. For readers put off by traditional mythology books, its greatest value lies in restoring readability through humor and dramatic tension while keeping the mythological genealogy intact. It suits dipping into a few tales on the commute, before bed or while traveling—no need to read in order or do any prep. Fry's tone is intimate, like a knowledgeable friend gossiping over dinner, yet the necessary background is never muddled. Note that it is aimed at adults, with modern irony and a secular approach; readers seeking rigorous scholarship or an introduction for children should adjust their expectations.

Who it's for

A good fit for

  • Adult readers interested in Greek myth but put off by academic books
  • Story-driven readers who enjoy humorous narrative and dramatic characterization
  • Commuters wanting an easy entry point for casual reading, with no need to read in order
  • Theater, film or writing enthusiasts looking for character archetypes and narrative inspiration

Not a good fit for

  • Academic readers seeking rigorous mythological scholarship and comparison with primary sources
  • Parents choosing mythology primers for young children
  • Readers expecting a serious, solemn treatment that preserves classical sacredness

Reading tips

  1. You needn't read from cover to cover; dip into chapters by god or story line that interest you.
  2. After each tale, jot down the relationships between characters; after a few, the genealogy becomes clear.
  3. Treat it as bedtime or commute reading, one or two tales at a time, to keep the stories light.
  4. Afterwards, read it alongside Heroes to feel the difference in how Fry handles myth versus heroic narrative.

About the publisher

Zhejiang Education Publishing House China · Founded in 1983

Zhejiang Education Publishing House is a professional publisher focusing on educational publishing while also serving general readers and academic accumulation, with publications covering textbooks, educational readers, popular science, and academic works. Judging from the more than 1,000 titles in the database, the press places considerable emphasis on classics and traditional culture for general readers: modern literature includes Lao She's Camel Xiangzi, Lu Xun's Call to Arms and Wandering and Wild Grass, Xiao Hong's The Story of Hulan River, and Zhu Ziqing's Back View; classical poetry includes Three Hundred Tang Poems and selections from the "Good Chinese Poetry" series, such as the Chu Ci and Qing ci anthologies. Related authors include modern writers such as Lao She, Lu Xun, Xiao Hong, and Zhu Ziqing, as well as classical literature selectors and annotators such as Hengtang Tuishi, Jin Xingyao, Jin Kaicheng, and Qian Zhonglian. Common categories in the database also include social novels, classic works, prose and miscellaneous writings, popular science, and inspirational growth, reflecting a publishing orientation that balances educational service with the popularization of public culture.

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 斯蒂芬·弗莱 享誉全球的喜剧大师
  3. 前言 翻开本书,踏上壮丽的希腊神话之旅
  4. 测一测 关于希腊神话,你了解多少?
  5. 第一部分 起源
  6. 卡俄斯:一切始于混沌
  7. 第一代神:万物初生
  8. 第二代神:提坦时代的降临
  9. 第二部分 辉煌
  10. 第二代神的毁灭:提坦陷落
  11. 第三代神:奥林匹斯诸神的时代
  12. 第三部分 人类的诞生
  13. 普罗米修斯:人类的创造者与守护者
  14. 潘多拉:诸神创造的报复之人
  15. 珀耳塞福涅:冥后与四季的诞生
  16. 丘比特与赛姬:野兽与美女
  17. 第四部分 诸神的玩偶
  18. 凡人:宙斯的猎艳与雅典建立者的诞生
  19. 法厄同:太阳之子
  20. 卡德摩斯:建立底比斯
  21. 酒神狄俄尼索斯:两度出生
  22. 愤怒的女神们:美人叫你下地狱
  23. 罪与罚:凡人的罪责与宙斯的折磨游戏
  24. 西西弗斯:永无止息地推动巨石
  25. 狂妄:永远不要挑衅天神的权威
  26. 阿剌克涅:从织布能手到第一只蜘蛛
  27. 变形:天神之爱酿成的悲剧
  28. 提索奥努斯:永生的诅咒
  29. 绽放的少年:都是爱情惹的祸
  30. 那耳喀索斯:恋上水中的倒影
  31. 皮拉莫斯与提斯珀:用鲜血染红桑葚的恋人
  32. 三个伽拉忒亚的故事
  33. 阿里翁与海豚:古怪而又美妙的羁绊
  34. 费莱蒙和鲍西丝:回头看的代价
  35. 亚历山大与戈耳狄俄斯之结
  36. 迈达斯:金手指与驴耳朵
  37. 附录 希腊神话之解读
  38. 后记 神话的本质
  39. 致谢
  40. 译者后记 像看英剧一样读希腊神话
  41. 延伸阅读
  42. 《希腊神话人物检索手册》

FAQ

Is this book suitable as an introduction to Greek myth for children?
Not really. The author retells the myths for adults, with a humorous tone and modern irony, and some episodes are handled in a fairly secular way. For children, choose a simpler, more restrained version; this book is better for adults to read themselves and then decide whether to retell it to children.
If I've never read Greek myth, will I be lost reading this directly?
No. The author re-maps the narrative, introduces characters as they appear and links the stories with threads, so no prior knowledge is needed. Start from the first chapter in order to establish the genealogy of the gods; after that, skipping around is less confusing.
What is the relationship between this book and Heroes?
Both are the author's retellings of Greek myth for adults; Mythos focuses on the gods and the divine world, while Heroes turns to heroic legends. They can be read independently, but starting with Mythos to establish the divine background makes Heroes flow more smoothly.

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About the author

Stephen Fry Author · British · 1957

Stephen Fry, born in Britain in 1957, is an actor, comedian, writer and presenter who graduated from the University of Cambridge. He is well known to audiences for starring in series such as Blackadder and Jeeves and Wooster, and has long hosted the knowledge quiz show QI. He also narrates the UK audiobooks of the Harry Potter series, and his vocal performance has won wide recognition. As a writer, he is the author of Mythos, Heroes and Troy, retellings of Greek myths, as well as several novels and an autobiography. His myth retellings use modern narrative language to organize the classical genealogies, combining humour with readability and bringing ancient stories close to contemporary readers; they are often classified as foreign literature. In 2024 he was knighted.

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