Mythos
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4.4 • 835 Ratings
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
Mythos is a modern collection of Greek myths, stylishly retold by legendary writer, actor, and comedian Stephen Fry. Fry transforms the adventures of Zeus and the Olympians into emotionally resonant and deeply funny stories, without losing any of their original wonder.
This stunning book features classical artwork inspired by the myths, as well as learned notes from the author.
• Each adventure is infused with Fry's distinctive wit, voice, and writing style
• Connoisseurs of the Greek myths will appreciate this fresh-yet-reverential interpretation, while newcomers will feel welcome
• Retellings brim with humor and emotion and offer rich cultural context
Celebrating the thrills, grandeur, and unabashed fun of the Greek myths, Mythos breathes life into ancient tales—from Pandora's box to Prometheus's fire.
This audiobook invites you to explore a captivating world with the brilliant storyteller Stephen Fry as your guide.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Vengeful gods, overconfident kings, snake-haired gorgons, sea voyages, heroic quests—it’s all Greek to us. We were happy to follow wherever British comedian, actor, and author Stephen Fry led us in this retelling of classical mythology. His skilled narration—complete with cheeky impersonations, zany contemporary characterizations, and comical commentary—brings excitement to the escapades of the Greek pantheon. Fry’s dry wit is perfect for updating these timeless tales, but what makes his storytelling really crackle is his remarkably deep knowledge of the material. He doesn’t just rewrite these myths to add punch lines. By updating them with modern language, Fry makes it clear how relatable they are and have always been. We loved all the fascinating things we learned in passing, like why a snake wrapped around a stake is a symbol of the medical profession, or that the horrific eternal punishment of King Tantalus gave us the word “tantalizing.” Mythos is a blast from the storied past that helps us better understand our own world—a Herculean task in its own right.
Customer Reviews
Great narration, poor formatting by publisher
Stephen Fry always knocks it out of the park on narration. The only loss is the poor formatting by the publisher. There are no logical chapter markers (as in, chapter 1: blah blah, chapter 2: blah blah strikes again, etc). There are only innumerable tracks. Want to listen to a part again about Prometheus? Good luck remembering which track it was. Want to follow along in the print version? Which chapter is which track? Unfortunately this is why Audible is still king. This publisher should fix this.
Enchanting Tales
You probably know some of these mythological stories of gods, mortals and immortals already. Some you don’t. They are strange and wondrous and beautiful and disturbing. The biggest issue is the abundance of characters; keeping them all straight proved impossible. Otherwise, an engaging collection of myths and legends.
A Masterpiece!
I’m very stingy with five star reviews, but this is, by far, the best audiobook I have ever heard. It is thoroughly researched and very educational. Wait, that sounds boring, and Mythos is anything but boring. Fry retells the Greek myths in a way that makes them accessible and addictive. I love the way he ties the myths to language, art, literature, geography, and other aspects of modern culture. Above all, I appreciate his humor and his choice of language. While I’m sure the e-book is also riveting, Fry’s own vocal performance adds a richness I can’t imagine I would get from the written word alone. My only complaint (not with the author) is that the audiobook just lists track numbers, rather than the title of the chapters, so it’s nearly impossible to go back and find a particular story or reference. To remedy that, I also purchased the e-book, so I could do word searches and find stories I want to hear again. Hey wait a minute … maybe that was their secret evil plot all along.