The book provides compiled summaries for each main greek hero and deity. The edition used as the source for the production of this book summary is the greek myths complete edition, edited by robert graves. Robert graves may have done the most thorough job possible in collecting all the greek myths, all the variants and local legends pertaining to it. I loved dipping into my fathers twovolume edition as a teenager and always wanted my own copy. Definitive, comprehensive and unparalleled a fresh look for gravess classic retelling of the greek myths. Robert graves wrote the widely published book greek myths i have heard that classicists dispute that his account of the myths is valid 1, in the sense that either graves editing, translation and collation of the source texts lacks fidelity to those texts. Buy a cheap copy of the greek myths book by robert graves. After this is a brief survey of a few aspects of the culture.
Originally published in 1955, it was updated for the last time in 1960. There is a brief description of the famous writer robert graves. Abridged editions of this work contain only the myths and leave out graves. His more than 120 books also include a notable historical novel, i, claudius 1934. Robert graves, classicist, poet, and unorthodox critic, retells the greek legends of gods and heroes for a modern audience and, in the two volumes of the greek myths, he demonstrates with a dazzling display of relevant knowledge that greek mythology is no more mysterious in content than are modern election cartoons. No one has organized the inchoate mass of ancient belief systems of the early greeks as well as graves. The greek myths 1955 is a mythography, a compendium of greek mythology, with comments and analyses, by the poet and writer robert graves. Im biased towards the daulaires book because i grew up with it. Since revising the greek myths in 1958, i have had second thoughts about the. Presently, when daedalus looked over his shoulder, he could no longer see icarus. The greek myths by robert graves, 9780241982358, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
The gold standard in greek mythology, in a dazzling graphic deluxe edition with a new introduction by the bestselling author of the percy jackson and the olympians. The greek myths including many of the greatest stories ever told the labours of hercules, the voyage of the argonauts, theseus and the. Endymion, pelops, daedalus, pygmalion what are the stories behind these and the hundreds of other familiar names from greek mythology names that recur throughout the history of european culture. All the scattered elements of each myth are assembled into a harmonious narrative, and many variants. Robert graves was born in 1895 at wimbledon, son of alfred perceval graves. The gold standard in greek mythology, in a dazzling graphic deluxe edition. Including many of the greatest stories ever told the labours of hercules, the voyage of the argonauts, theseus and the minotaur, midas and his golden touch, the trojan war and odysseuss journey home robert gravess superb and comprehensive retelling of the greek myths for a modern. He retells the adventures of the most important gods and heroes of the ancient greeks. In a twovolume work that has become a classic reference book for both the serious scholar and the casual inquirer, robert graves retells the adventures of the important gods and heroes. What is the best book that has a complete collection of. Including many of the greatest stories ever told the labours of hercules, the voyage of the argonauts, theseus and the minotaur, midas and his golden touch, the trojan war and odysseuss journey home robert gravess superb and comprehensive retelling of the greek myths for a modern audience has been regarded for over fifty years as the. From the creation out of chaos and the birth of olympians to the labours of hercules, the trojan war and odysseuss return, robert graves superb retelling of the greek myths now published for. Is robert graves greek myths considered trustworthy. The reason is because, while graves is truly an excellent storyteller, the vast majority of the time he has literally no idea what he is talk.
He had a single great theme, first revealed in his book the white goddess, which he was determined to highlight again and again out of every facet of the vast source material. Endymion, pelops, daedalus, pygmalion we recognize the names, but what are the stories behind these and other familiar gods from the greek pantheon names that. Combines in a single volume the complete text of the definitive tw. Robert graves, english poet, novelist, critic, and classical scholar who carried on many of the formal traditions of english verse in a period of experimentation. The greek myths by robert graves penguin books australia. Endymion, pelops, daedalus, pygmalion we recognize the names. When robert graves sat down to write his deconstruction of the greek myths in the 1950s, he was a man on a mission. Well, first of all, i am going to mention that i do not recommend robert gravess the greek myths 1955. Graves then provides his own evaluation as to the anthropological origins of the myths in the context of early greek civilization. There are two volumes, but they are often available in a single book, which makes it easier for the reader to handle. Im convinced graves studied every ancient work available, undoubtedly in the original language, which makes his extensive scholarship valid from the outset.
It has been rigorously translated and carefully compiled. Abridged editions of this work contain only the myths and leave out graves commentary. He demonstrates with a dazzling display of relevant knowledge that greek mythology is no more mysterious in content than are modern election cartoons. The definitive and comprehensive edition of robert gravess classic retelling of the greek myths icarus disobeyed his fathers instructions and began soaring towards. The golden bough was a highly influential book at the time he was writing. Which book is better for knowing the basics about greek.
A509 by robert graves a copy that has been read, but remains in excellent condition. Robert graves weaves his poetic magic through the greek myths and gives background into how they may have originated and how they change through time, different areas of the world. Drawing on an enormous range of sources, robert graves has brought together elements of these myths in simple narrative form. Former owners name penned on first page and index entries penciled on rear pages. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. He wrote his autobiography, goodbye to all that, in 1929, and it was soon established as a modern classic. The definitive and comprehensive edition of robert gravess classic retelling of the greek myths. Robert graves the greek myths is a wonderful resource for learning about the myths of ancient greece. Classics deluxe edition by robert graves in djvu, fb3, rtf download ebook. He went from school to the first world war, where he became a captain in the royal welch fusiliers and was seriously wounded at the battle of the somme.
The greek myths by robert graves, 9780140171990, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. The gold standard in greek mythology, in a dazzling graphic deluxe edition with a new introduction by the bestselling author of the percy jackson and the. The definitive and comprehensive edition of robert gravess classic retelling of the greek myths icarus disobeyed his fathers instructions and began soaring towards the sun, rejoiced by the lift of his great sweeping wings. Robert graves, classicist, poet and unorthodox critic, retells the greek legends of gods and heroes for a modern audience. His focus is primarily on minoan and premycenean civilizations. From the creation of the world out of chaos and the birth of the olympians to the trojan war and odysseuss return, robert gravess superb retelling of the greek myths has long been acclaimed as the definitive edition. Many editions of the book separate it into two volumes. Robert graves the greek myths also analyses homers illiad much more than any archaeological dig ever has. As a source for raw information on the subject, this is an absolute treasure. The singlevolume edition is handy and the type not as small as i feared which is a concern to anyone with less than.