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The Greek Myths
Drawing on an enormous range of sources, Robert Graves has brought together elements of these myths in simple narrative form. He retells the adventures of the most important gods and heroes of the ancient Greeks. His work has become the reference for the serious scholar as well as the casual inquirer.
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About the authors
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961) was a Swiss psychiatrist, an influential thinker and the founder of analytical psychology (also known as Jungian psychology). Jung's radical approach to psychology has been influential in the field of depth psychology and in counter-cultural movements across the globe. Jung is considered as the first modern psychologist to state that the human psyche is "by nature religious" and to explore it in depth. His many major works include "Analytic Psychology: Its Theory and Practice," "Man and His Symbols," "Memories, Dreams, Reflections," "The Collected Works of Carl G. Jung," and "The Red Book."
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.
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Customers find this book to be a comprehensive collection of Greek myths, with one review noting how it penetrates deeply into the subject matter. Moreover, the content receives positive feedback, with one customer describing it as a well-organized reference book. Additionally, the book offers good value for money, and one customer considers it an essential addition to one's personal library.
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Customers appreciate the collection of Greek myths in this book, with one customer noting how it penetrates deeply into the stories and another highlighting its reference to ancient beliefs.
"...It is not a book I would read as a story but more of areference to the ancient beliefs and how they relate to life in the corresponding times."Read more
"...This book is great. It hasall of the traditional myths told how they were meant to be told in a very great manner...."Read more
"...a great deal of material, and generally he doespresent lively versions of the Greek myths, but you have to remember that these books have to be..."Read more
"The best (and most comprehensive)collection of Greek myth I know. Wore out my first copy."Read more
Customers appreciate the content of the book, with one describing it as a well-organized reference work that provides a profound understanding of the subject.
"...a considerable scholar on the subject i felt assured this would be aconcise, well organized reference book covering the subject...."Read more
"...Graves' scholarship is stupendous. He had aprofound understanding of the whole matter, besides being a wonderful poet steeped in this root tradition."Read more
"I used this book as a source when teaching mythology. It was agreat help!"Read more
"This is astandard work on the subject. A must-have, for anyone interested in mythology. Exhaustive. Not too stuffy."Read more
Customers find the book offers good value for money.
"...Pretty happy with my purchase especially since it was socheap!! :-)"Read more
"Nice size.Good value for money."Read more
"Great price and great service. Thanks much for getting this out to us so quickly...."Read more
"Great item,great price, and fast delivery. They provided with followup emials on tracking number with delivery date, and the shipment was great."Read more
Customers find the book valuable, with one noting it's essential for personal libraries and another mentioning it's a welcome addition to bookshelves.
"...Not only are they beautiful and awelcome addition to any bookshelf, but the author's approach to showcasing the Greek myths as they evolved..."Read more
"...[A replacement of very old paperbacks.] It isessential for one's personal library and a never ending source of pleasure...."Read more
"...This book is agreat addition for people who are interested in the old myths."Read more
Customers find the book easy to read, with one mentioning its excellent text and another noting its cogent quotes.
"I prefer a book that's more illustrated and aneasier read...."Read more
"Thetext is excellent. The physical book has some issues...."Read more
"Best, most approachable source of Greek mythology explication andcogent quotes (form Hesiod mostly)..."Read more
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The text is excellent. The physical book has some issues.
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2023Good quality. Excellent seller service
- Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2020These books will change the way you look at the Greek myths. Not only are they beautiful and a welcome addition to any bookshelf, but the author's approach to showcasing the Greek myths as they evolved throughout history is great for anyone with a true passion for Greek mythology.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2018Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseDid you ever wonder where the stories of Zeus, Hades, Aphrodite, Hercules, etc came from? - This book presents us with the source myths of such characters, as well as pictures of greek art depicting the stories being narrated by these myths. Ancient iconography helps us understand how the gods and heroes were imagined and interpreted in their original context by the people who worshipped and revered them.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2013I purchased this book as a reference for some of my photography projects. It is not a book I would read as a story but more of a reference to the ancient beliefs and how they relate to life in the corresponding times.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2013I love mythology, so whenever I can get books on it, I consider it a great treat. This book is great. It has all of the traditional myths told how they were meant to be told in a very great manner. I have no regrets when it comes to this book except the fact that I did not get it in hardback and now I want it in hardback...
- Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2013Perhaps the goddess Fortuna was looking down on me when I found this edition of R. Graves, the Greek Myths published by the Folio Society. [A replacement of very old paperbacks.] It is essential for one's personal library and a never ending source of pleasure. Now, let's be honest - do you remember each and every one of the Greek Myths?
- Reviewed in the United States on February 29, 2016Thrilled w evryth = happy 4 simple knot designs thats exactly wat l wantd but thers 2 pics on ea pg SO ODDS R 2 B DAFE THAT COLOR OR MARKS DONT COME THRU UR BEST OFF PICKING 1 of the 2 pics 2 color : - (
- Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2001I am reviewing the two volume edition of Robert Graves's "The Greek Myths."
For many years I have used Robert Graves's "The Greek Myths" as my primary source for information about Greek mythology, but recently I have had to reevaluate the book. The book should be used with a great deal of care and caution.
The need for this reevaluation started innocently enough. I was reading "Hercules at Nemea" a poem by Robert Graves, I wondered about the first line: "Muse, you have bitten through my fool's-finger." I wondered which muse bit through Hercules's finger. So I went to his "Greek Myths" vol. 2 p. 104 where I read that Heracles wrestled with the Nemean lion, not a lioness, and it bit off one of his fingers, but he held it in a chancery and choked it to death. So Graves was free with his material and the poem, which makes poetic sense, does not make mythic sense. Still some questions remained like who were the muses? I was stymied there. In "The Greek Myths" Graves tells us who the Fates are: Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos. The Erinnyes: Tisiphone,Alecto, Megaera. The Charities: Euphrosyne, Aglaia and Thalia. The Seven against Thebes:Polyneices, Tydeus, Capaneus, Hippomedon, Amphiaraus, Parthenopaeus, Adrastus, and some say Eteoclus. He even names the Sirens with all the variations: Aglaope, Aglaophonos, Leucosia, Ligeria, Molpe, Parthenope, Peisinoe, Raidne, Teles, Thelxepeia, and Thelxiope. But he does not name the Muses. In volume 1, page 53 Graves says that Zeus fathered the Three Muses on Mnemosyne with whom he lay nine nights, but in volume 2, p. 317 Graves says there are nine muses. How many muses are there? For the parentage and number of the muses Graves cites an Orphic fragment which I do not have, and Apollodorus 1. 3. 1-2. as his sources for this story. I checked Apollodorus and he states that Zeus and Mnemosyne are the parents of the nine muses and goes on to name them. In volume 1, page 55 Graves wrote that "Zeus's claim to be their [the Muses] father is a late one; Hesiod calls them the daughters Mother Earth and Air." In "Works and Days" and "Theogony" Hesiod says that Zeus and Mnemosyne are the parents of the Muses (see pp.3, 83-85 and 145 of the Loeb volume #57--"Hesiod and the Homeric Hymns"). Perhaps Graves is confusing the parents of Mnemosyne, Earth and Heaven, with the parents of the muses. Hesiod does names the Muses: Calliope, Cleio, Euterpe, Thalia, Melpomene, Terpsichore, Erato, Polyhymnia, and Urania. Also on page 55 Graves cites Pausanius to say the number of the muses is three, but the citation he gives, ix.19.2, is wrong. The citation is actually ix.29.2.
This is not the only example of Graves' carelessness or his uncritical use of material. Graves does present a great deal of material, and generally he does present lively versions of the Greek myths, but you have to remember that these books have to be used with great caution. I would recommend that you use Graves' Greek Myths in conjuntion with other references.
Top reviews from other countries
- S.T ParkerReviewed in the United Kingdom on December 29, 2014
5.0 out of 5 starsI love this so much that I was prepared to read ...
Yes, this is by Robert Graves, the writer of the nifty I, Claudius. There might be a few naughty bits in this book. Well, it is Greek mythology. I didn't buy it for that though.
This book became a Christmas present for my Dad, and though I have only read a smaller portion of it I can tell that the quality is exceedingly high. I love this so much that I was prepared to read this before other items in my pile of other Amazon reading candies. Some books are written with such care and promise such gems from a mine of information that they are unmissable.
As a result of reading this book I was so enthused and frustrated at not having a copy of this close at hand that I bought another book on Greek (and Roman) myths which, needless, to say, is not quite on par with this. I do not speak from too much experience, but my background research into Graves suggests that there are few to no books on Greek myths that surpass this.
I love this so much that I will buy another copy. - k.r.ventrisReviewed in the United Kingdom on May 4, 2025
5.0 out of 5 starsGood condition
Good condition. Prompt - Amazon CustomerReviewed in the United Kingdom on March 18, 2024
5.0 out of 5 starsExcellent service, speedy delivery.
I was delighted to receive these beautiful folio books as described and in excellent condition. The seller had packed the books securely and they arrived really fast. I would buy with confidence from the same company in the future. Thank you! - CRTEReviewed in the United Kingdom on November 22, 2008
4.0 out of 5 starsBrief statement of product quality
I ordered this product because I wanted a compact, slightly academic, retelling of all the Greek Myths in hardcover. I ordered through Amazon from Nicodan. The shipment was very prompt, and the item was, as advertised, new (pristine). It was exactly as described, without dust jackets, There are some black & white illustrations and photo-reproductions, in the stylistic form of ancient Greek archeological images, not colour artists' impressions. I was disappointed by the print size, which I found was rather smaller and more closely spaced than I expected. However, there is nothing wrong with the clarity of the print, and it magnifies well.
I was also surprised by the price of this item, which I thought remarkably cheap, but I have yet to pay the final bill !
EC
22.November.2008I ordered this product because I wanted a compact, slightly academic, retelling of all the Greek Myths in hardcover. I ordered through Amazon from Nicodan. The shipment was very prompt, and the item was, as advertised, new (pristine). It was exactly as described, without dust jackets, There are some black & white illustrations and photo-reproductions, in the stylistic form of ancient Greek archeological images, not colour artists' impressions. I was disappointed by the print size, which I found was rather smaller and more closely spaced than I expected. However, there is nothing wrong with the clarity of the print, and it magnifies well.4.0 out of 5 starsCRTEBrief statement of product quality
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 22, 2008
I was also surprised by the price of this item, which I thought remarkably cheap, but I have yet to pay the final bill !
EC
22.November.2008Images in this review
- Jazz67Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 30, 2010
5.0 out of 5 starsA classic book of classic tales
Robert Graves's Greek Myths isn't new to me. I loved dipping into my father's two-volume edition as a teenager and always wanted my own copy. The single-volume edition is handy and the type not as small as I feared (which is a concern to anyone with less than perfect eyesight when it comes to 'condensed' books).
Whatever you make of Graves's interpretations of various myths (which some scholars have criticised as arbitrary and non-scientific), he's a good storyteller. The myths themselves remain as astoundingly fresh and lovely to (re)read as ever.
