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The Greek Myths (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition) Paperback – Deckle Edge, April 24, 2012

by Robert Graves (Author), Ross Macdonald (Illustrator), Rick Riordan (Introduction)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 229 ratings
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The gold standard in Greek mythology, in a dazzling Graphic Deluxe Edition featuring flaps, deckled edges, and specially commissioned cover art by Ross Macdonald and a new introduction by the multimillion-copy bestselling author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series

From the creation of the world out of Chaos and the birth of the Olympians to the Trojan War and Odysseus's return, Robert Graves's superb retelling of the Greek myths has long been acclaimed as the definitive edition. Graves draws on sources scattered throughout ancient literature, using a novelist's skill to weave a crisp, coherent narrative of each myth and providing commentaries with cross-references, interpretations, and explanations based on solid scholarship. The result is a classic volume of many of the greatest stories ever told—stories of the gods, heroes, and extraordinary events that inspired Homer, the Greek tragedians, and so much of subsequent European literature.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
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  1. Print length
    793 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Penguin Classics
  4. Publication date
    April 24, 2012
  5. Grade level
    12 and up
  6. Reading age
    18 years and up
  7. Dimensions
    8.41 x 5.6 x 2.15 inches
  8. ISBN-10
    0143106716
  9. ISBN-13
    978-0143106715
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robert Graves (1895–1985) is the author of the historical novel I, Claudius, the classic war memoir Goodbye to All That, and more than 140 other published works, including translations of Homer and Suetonius for Penguin Classics.

Rick Riordan (introduction) is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, the Kane Chronicles, and the Heroes of Olympus. More than twenty million copies of his books are in print. After teaching middle school English and history for fifteen years, he now writes full time in San Antonio, Texas, where he lives with his wife and two sons.

Ross MacDonald (cover illustrator) is an illustrator, comic-book artist, and contributing editor of the Virginia Quarterly Review whose illustrations have appeared in The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Newsweek, and Time, among other magazines. He lives in Connecticut.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Contents
1.           The Pelasgian Creation Myth      
2.           The Homeric and Orphic Creation Myths              
3.           The Olympian Creation Myth      
4.           Two Philosophical Creation Myths           
5.           The Five Ages of Man     
6.           The Castration of Uranus             
7.           The Dethronement of Cronus     
8.           The Birth of Athene        
9.           Zeus and Metis 
10.         The Fates           
11.         The Birth of Aphrodite   
12.         Hera and Her Children   
13.         Zeus and Hera   
14.         Births of Hermes, Apollo, Artemis, and Dionysus
15.         The Birth of Eros             
16.         Poseidon’s Nature and Deeds     
17.         Hermes’s Nature and Deeds       
18.         Aphrodite’s Nature and Deeds   
19.         Ares’s Nature and Deeds             
20.         Hestia’s Nature and Deeds          
21.         Apollo’s Nature and Deeds          
22.         Artemis’s Nature and Deeds       
23.         Hephaestus’s Nature and Deeds
24.         Demeter’s Nature and Deeds     
25.         Athene’s Nature and Deeds        
26.         Pan’s Nature and Deeds
27.         Dionysus’s Nature and Deeds     
28.         Orpheus              
29.         Ganymedes        
30.         Zagreus
31.         The Gods of the Underworld
32.         Tyche and Nemesis         
33.         The Children of the Sea 
34.         The Children of Echidne
35.         The Giants’ Revolt
36.         Typhon 
37.         The Aloeids
38.         Deucalion’s Flood
39.         Atlas and Prometheus
40.         Eos        
41.         Orion
42.         Helius   
43.         The Sons of Hellen          
44.         Ion        
45.         Alcyone and Ceyx           
46.         Tereus  
47.         Erechtheus and Eumolpus           
48.         Boreas 
49.         Alope    
50.         Asclepius            
51.         The Oracles       
52.         The Alphabet     
53.         The Dactyls        
54.         The Telchines    
55.         The Empusae     
56.         Io          
57.         Phoroneus          
58.         Europe and Cadmus       
59.         Cadmus and Harmonia  
60.         Belus and the Danaids   
61.         Lamia   
62.         Leda     
63.         Ixion     
64.         Endymion           
65.         Pygmalion and Galatea 
66.         Aeacus 
67.         Sisyphus              
68.         Salmoneus and Tyro      
69.         Alcestis
70.         Athamas             
71.         The Mares of Glaucus    
72.         Melampus          
73.         Perseus
74.         The Rival Twins 
75.         Bellerophon
76.         Antiope
77.         Niobe   
78.         Caenis and Caeneus       
79.         Erigone
80.         The Calydonian Boar      
81.         Telamon and Peleus       
82.         Aristaeus            
83.         Midas   
84.         Cleobis and Biton            
85.         Narcissus            
86.         Phyllis and Carya             
87.         Arion    
88.         Minos and His Brothers 
89.         The Loves of Minos        
90.         The Children of Pasiphaë             
91.         Scylla and Nisus
92.         Daedalus and Talos        
93.         Catreus and Althaemenes            
94.         The Sons of Pandion       
95.         The Birth of Theseus      
96.         The Labours of Theseus 
97.         Theseus and Medea       
98.         Theseus in Crete             
99.         The Federalization of Attica        
100.       Theseus and the Amazons           
101.       Phaedra and Hippolytus
102.       Lapiths and Centaurs     
103.       Theseus in Tartarus        
104.       The Death of Theseus    
105.       Oedipus              
106.       The Seven Against Thebes           
107.       The Epigoni        
108.       Tantalus              
109.       Pelops and Oenomaus   
110.       The Children of Pelops   
111.       Atreus and Thyestes       
112.       Agamemnon and Clytaemnestra               
113.       The Vengeance of Orestes           
114.       The Trial of Orestes        
115.       The Pacification of the Erinnyes 
116.       Iphigeneia Among the Taurians 
117.       The Reign of Orestes      
118.       The Birth of Heracles     
119.       The Youth of Heracles   
120.       The Daughters of Thespius          
121.       Erginus 
122.       The Madness of Heracles             
123.       The First Labour: The Nemean Lion         
124.       The Second Labour: The Lernaean Hydra              
125.       The Third Labour: The Ceryneian Hind    
126.       The Fourth Labour: The Erymanthian Boar           
127.       The Fifth Labour: The Stables of Augeias
128.       The Sixth Labour: The Stymphalian Birds
129.       The Seventh Labour: The Cretan Bull
130.       The Eighth Labour: The Mares of Diomedes         
131.       The Ninth Labour: Hippolyte’s Girdle       
132.       The Tenth Labour: The Cattle of Geryon 
133.       The Eleventh Labour: The Apples of the Hesperides          
134.       The Twelfth Labour: The Capture of Cerberus
135.       The Murder of Iphitus    
136.       Omphale             
137.       Hesione              
138.       The Conquest of Elis       
139.       The Capture of Pylus      
140.       The Sons of Hippocoön  
141.       Auge     
142.       Deianeira            
143.       Heracles in Trachis          
144.       Iole       
145.       The Apotheosis of Heracles         
146.       The Children of Heracles              
147.       Linus     
148.       The Argonauts Assemble              
149.       The Lemnian Women and King Cyzicus   
150.       Hylas, Amycus, and Phineus        
151.       From the Symplegades to Colchis            
152.       The Seizure of the Fleece             
153.       The Murder of Apsyrtus
154.       The Argo Returns to Greece
155.       The Death of Pelias        
156.       Medea at Ephyra             
157.       Medea in Exile  
158.       The Foundation of Troy 
159.       Paris and Helen
160.       The First Gathering at Aulis         
161.       The Second Gathering at Aulis    
162.       Nine Years of War           
163.       The Wrath of Achilles     
164.       The Death of Achilles     
165.       The Madness of Ajax      
166.       The Oracles of Troy        
167.       The Wooden Horse        
168.       The Sack of Troy              
169.       The Returns       
170.       Odysseus’s Wanderings 
171.       Odysseus’s Homecoming

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Classics; Deluxe edition (April 24, 2012)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 793 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0143106716
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0143106715
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 12 and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.41 x 5.6 x 2.15 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 229 ratings

About the author

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Robert Graves

Robert Graves

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ROBERT GRAVES (1895-1985) was an English poet, translator, and novelist, one of the leading English men of letters in the twentieth century. He fought in World War I and won international acclaim in 1929 with the publication of his memoir of the First World War, Good-bye to All That. After the war, he was granted a classical scholarship at Oxford and subsequently went to Egypt as the first professor of English at the University of Cairo. He is most noted for his series of novels about the Roman emperor Claudius and his works on mythology, such as The White Goddess.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
229 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

TD
5.0 out of 5 stars Probably the best single Greek mythology you can buy
Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2017
Verified Purchase
It has been so long since I read Graves I forgot how wonderful he is. I think this is probably the best way to get into Greek myths, full stories, good footnotes (for the confusing or contradictory bits), and good organization. One caution, although I love to read these to my kids, the ancient Greeks (at least, when viewed from the perspective of a modern American grade-schooler) got kinda pervy sometimes, so, be prepared to skip over a few of the boot-knockin'-cousins bits if you're reading to younger children (these are part of the myth and, to his credit, Graves handles them very tastefully. But, Zeus, dude! I know that's a goddess and all, but you know she's also your sister, right??). Also it's not a bad idea to contextualize all the substance abuse wine, nectar, and ambrosia (which, if I recall correctly, Graves suggests may represent psilocybe mushrooms) -- again, critical parts of the story and important to relate, just with appropriate framing (wouldn't want your kids to think you'll go crazy like Herakles did). That said, the themes here (boot-related and otherwise) are eternal and still emerge in the greatest fiction of today. Fickle fate, heroes, monsters, immortal forces... this is a goldmine for anyone who needs inspiration to write, seeks ideas for a game, or needs a springboard to re-awaken appreciation of myth.

Rick Riordan (of Percy Jackson fame) writes an absolutely wonderful intro to this book, suitable for anyone. The comic-like artwork on the cover is clever and well done, but this is not a graphic novel. Instead it's a wonderfully heavy chunk of text from Robert Graves wrapped in some nice artwork and introduction by other talented folks.
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Acontius
5.0 out of 5 stars For fans of Myths and Riordin
Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2023
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Excellent, nearly exhaustive reference work by Robert Graves made even more attractive to young scholars by Rick Riordan's superb intro. If you have a kid who is into his works, you know exactly how powerful his name can be!
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flashgordon
5.0 out of 5 stars The Greek Myths - the real study of Homer's Troy . . and much else
Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2019
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I saw a copy of Robert Grave's "The Greek Myths" a year or two ago at my local community library(which isn't there anymore, unfortunately). It had this great Comic book Greek Gods/Goddesses as superheros cover - Brilliant idea. I read like ten pages and knew I hit paydirt. Proof of astrotheology and Sir James Frazer's "The Golden Bough.

Lots of so called scholars in high University positions today belittle Sir James Frazer's "The Golden Bough." I found almost on every page turned evidence for Sacrificial Kings. It's practically over 700 pages of proof of a pre-male Earth Goddess religions, who had a system of Sacrificing a "King for a day" whether they used magic successfully or not, to bring the rains and the harvests.

This yearly harvest religion has astro-theology implied implicitly. The yearly seasonal changes involves the sun and moon. Even Sir James Frazer withdrew from any astro-theological implications.

Robert Graves "The Greek Myths" also analyses Homer's Illiad much more than any archaeological dig ever has. He does so using Greek Mythology. Not that Greek gods actually existed; but, people back then did, and mythology is the window we have to see what they knew or thought they knew. Most Troy documentaries anyways, just talk about Schliemann and how he discovered it, as if that's all there is interesting to say about Troy. Seems to me that Robert Grave's mythological exploration says a lot more about Troy, and all that can be said about it.
9 people found this helpful
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Dia
4.0 out of 5 stars Buyer Beware! Only A Cool New Cover!
Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2012
Verified Purchase
Amazon / Penguin should have been more clear in their description of this book's charms. It certainly has them and yet, I'm feeling duped.

I've been so excited for this "graphic" edition of a classic reimaged as comic. Well, it just arrived and -- WAH! -- my worst worry has been realized. The only "graphic" part of this edition is a cool cover -- albeit a really cool cover. I had hoped that there'd be at least a few comic illustrations inside but no. So so bummed! Neither the coolness of the cover nor the quality of the printing / pages is doing much to allay my disappointment.

There was room to include at least graphic chapter headers if not a myth-to-comic adaption here & there. Even one! For 20 bucks I expected more. If you just want to read this book but don't care about a cool cover, used copies can be had for pennies.

If you're like me and you already own Graves but were hoping to see a few comic versions of an old favorite then you will be sorely disappointment. Even more so because of how beautiful the cover is for it really shows how amazing this book could've been had they only included more of the "graphic" elements. Chapter headings & just one story-as-comic would have been enough. At least to ease the yearning for more. As it is, I'm not so sure it's worth it -- especially if you already have Graves in your bookshelf.

If you are new to Graves or the Greek myths and don't mind paying extra for a quality printing then go for it. The paper is lovely and the cover folds out to include 8 more gods / hero depictions: Artemis, Heracles, Polyphemus, Medusa, Icarus, Perseus, Andromeda & a Centaur.

The awesomeness of these illustrations only makes me crave more of 'em. I wish this illustrator would do a whole book -- using only a handful of myths maybe.

Graves is comprehensive and worth reading but I really expected more here. Amazon was almost deliberately unclear. As for content, other readers have reviewed Graves elsewhere on Amazon. Suffice to say, the myths via Graves is a classic for a reason.

Wah! I feel like an 8 yo boy who got only socks for Christmas! Damn you, Santa! Damn you straight to Hades!

Still, I doubt I'll be able to bring myself to send this beauty back. It's just too nice! It would make an excellent gift for any reader or book lover. A fan of the myths could not resist it even if they already own another version. So give it as a gift, buy it for yourself if you're a sucker for a gorgeous cover / printing but look elsewhere if you only want the Graves text cause that's almost all you're getting here.

As for myself, I'm sure I'll end up keeping this book cause it's just too damn cool -- even if it makes me ache to imagine how much cooler it could've been.

Update: I've had this book for about a year. I still wish it had more graphic elements but I don't regret keeping it. It's displayed prominently in my room and I enjoy it daily. I do still believe that the publishers missed an opportunity to create something extraordinary which is too bad. I'm glad I wrote this review and clarified the "cool cover only" issue. However, I am a sucker for a great cover and a beautiful book so I'm happy to own it.
88 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Skarabeast
5.0 out of 5 stars Product as described by seller - arrived quickly.
Reviewed in Canada on September 1, 2020
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Product as described by seller - arrived quickly.
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Napoleone
2.0 out of 5 stars Kein Comic
Reviewed in Germany on July 31, 2019
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Aus irgendeinem Grund war ich der Meinung, es würde sich um einen Comic handeln. Zumindest suggeriert das die Produktbeschreibung.
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L. F. Murray
5.0 out of 5 stars Not for the faint-hearted
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 6, 2018
Verified Purchase
Somewhere, I have the Penguin paperback edition of this work but, with so many books in the house, it has become buried! I purchased the two-volume Folio edition in a slipcase and am reliving these wonderful stories I first read over forty years ago. Robert Graves' work is not for the faint-hearted; the retelling of the myths themselves pre-supposes one has a knowledge of both the mythological characters' and place names and, if you thought there were endless characters in Tolstoy's 'War and Peace', you 'ain't heard nothin' yet'. Be prepared to encounter a myriad of diverse heroes and heroines plus a plethora of gods and goddesses, most with tongue twisting names. But please don't be deterred. This work is the most comprehensive of its type and is a true account of the mythology and ancient beliefs of the Greeks whose resounding histories are the foundation of western knowledge, civilisation, and understanding. Graves' additions to each myth gives an insight into the origins of each myth and links them to other cultures' beliefs on which they were either founded or co-existed. Reading 'The Greek Myths' transports its readers to a place and time which still lingers somewhere at the back of our collective memory and, to some extent, sheds light on our current religious beliefs. It is a fulfilling and satisfying read and with the perseverance of those unfamiliar with its characters and locations, will provide a basis of intellectual enlightenment. I thoroughly recommend 'The Greek Myths' to students and general readers alike.
14 people found this helpful
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Carlos Torres
5.0 out of 5 stars Robert Graves.The greek myths.
Reviewed in Spain on October 21, 2017
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A wonderful edition pretty decorated and very well conserved. All in all a great book for those who love greek mythology.
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nicolai maria grazia
5.0 out of 5 stars The GREEK MYTHS
Reviewed in Italy on January 3, 2013
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BELLO, SCRITTO BENE, MI OCCORREVA IN LINGUA INGLESE. COSTO MOLTO BUONO, RISPETTO AL NEGOZIO. LA CARTA E' MOLTO BELLA, CREDO SIA RICICLATA, TUTTO OK.
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