The Gorgon's Head

In The Gorgon's Head, Nathaniel Hawthorne turns the Greek myth of Perseus into a bright, fast-moving adventure for children. Sent by a wicked king to fetch the head of Medusa, a monster whose look turns anyone to stone, young Perseus sets out with nothing but courage. With the help of the clever Quicksilver, three strange sisters who share a single eye, and a set of magical gifts, he flies to the edge of the world to face the Gorgons. First published in A Wonder-Book for Girls and Boys (1851), it is a classic introduction to Greek mythology, full of wonder, humor and suspense.