mikeiswhere's review against another edition
I was really excited to read this, after having really enjoyed Troy. I just couldn't get into after multiple attempts, though. Didn't really get far enough in to give it a real rating.
theelliad's review against another edition
3.0
Oh yay another book on male heroes just what we needed. Just like mythos, this was excellent in its narrative approach to the myths making them endlessly approachable, however that said I cant look past the male-centric telling of these stories. While I’ve noticed this is both books, it is impossible to ignore his dismissal and villainisation of the female characters within the myths, Fry truly embodies the male classicist perspective which I feel we’ve moved so far past. I think if this had been written maybe 30 years before it was I would like and understand its perspective more. Futhermore, from the knowledge I have this is riddled with inaccuracies (I’m no classical genius but from what I could tell Roman and Greek versions are continually confused). While I respect this as an initial introduction to these stories, I pity any who take this as the gospel truth when there is such a wider canon of myth retellings! On the other hand, as far as the audiobook goes I thoroughly enjoyed it, it feels like a series of bedtime stories that took me back to reading my kids illiad years ago, the voices create distinct and interesting characters (even when i’m not a fan of the presentation) and if i ignore the knowledge i already have i can respect and praise Fry’s writing and I appreciated the defence of Oedipus and Freud🫶
mary846's review against another edition
5.0
A marvellous retelling of a series of complicated and bizarre myths involving the best (and worst) of Greece’s heroes.
Lots of confusing names, sex with animals and other people’s wives, vengeance, killing in gruesome ways, wit, humour and adventure!
Stephen Fry makes this a wonderful rollicking journey, with lots of funny asides and commentary.
I especially enjoyed wily Theseus and his adventure with the Minotaur, Jason and his journey to retrieve the golden fleece (including hooking up with the truly terrible Medea), Bellerophon and his sidekick Pegasus, and Orpheus daring to enter the realm of Hades to retrieve his beloved Euridyce.
Marvellous!
Lots of confusing names, sex with animals and other people’s wives, vengeance, killing in gruesome ways, wit, humour and adventure!
Stephen Fry makes this a wonderful rollicking journey, with lots of funny asides and commentary.
I especially enjoyed wily Theseus and his adventure with the Minotaur, Jason and his journey to retrieve the golden fleece (including hooking up with the truly terrible Medea), Bellerophon and his sidekick Pegasus, and Orpheus daring to enter the realm of Hades to retrieve his beloved Euridyce.
Marvellous!
phodosanatka's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ethsteele's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
slymonsen's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
alexregan's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
annieb123's review against another edition
5.0
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Heroes is the second volume of embellished retelling of the heroes of the Greek myths by the inimitable Stephen Fry. Released 2nd June 2020 by Chronicle Books, it's 352 pages and available in hardcover, audio (narrated by S.Fry himself), and ebook formats.
Stephen Fry is simply a treasure. He's erudite and genuinely funny, urbane but not stuffy. He's self deprecating and frighteningly intelligent but not above being naughtily delighted over a raunchy pun. No surprise, then, that he turned his prodigious writing talent to Greek mythology, this time the heroes of the myths: Perseus, Heracles, Bellerophon, Orpheus, Jason, Atalanta, Oedipus and Theseus. Readers will certainly be familiar with the basic stories; what's new are the asides and footnotes. There are comments on etymology and how the genesis of these stories disappears into our human prehistory. There are also plenty of linguistic asides, showing the threads between the origins of words which are used down through history to today.
There is plenty of truly bloody horrifically violent material in the Greek mythos, but he manages to extract the absurd, the comedic, the ridiculous, and give it his own twist, and in a few cases he left me gasping with laughter. There was a lot of obscure information with which I was unfamiliar, despite my unhealthy obsession with Bullfinch and Graves.
Loved this. Laughed so much. This would make a superlative classroom support book or recommended text for history, classics, group read, home library, etc. Good, well written, worthy historical commentary doesn't have to be boring. What a treasure Mr. Fry is.
Five stars. I'll be revisiting this one and the first volume, and I can't wait to get my grubby little paws on the next one.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Heroes is the second volume of embellished retelling of the heroes of the Greek myths by the inimitable Stephen Fry. Released 2nd June 2020 by Chronicle Books, it's 352 pages and available in hardcover, audio (narrated by S.Fry himself), and ebook formats.
Stephen Fry is simply a treasure. He's erudite and genuinely funny, urbane but not stuffy. He's self deprecating and frighteningly intelligent but not above being naughtily delighted over a raunchy pun. No surprise, then, that he turned his prodigious writing talent to Greek mythology, this time the heroes of the myths: Perseus, Heracles, Bellerophon, Orpheus, Jason, Atalanta, Oedipus and Theseus. Readers will certainly be familiar with the basic stories; what's new are the asides and footnotes. There are comments on etymology and how the genesis of these stories disappears into our human prehistory. There are also plenty of linguistic asides, showing the threads between the origins of words which are used down through history to today.
There is plenty of truly bloody horrifically violent material in the Greek mythos, but he manages to extract the absurd, the comedic, the ridiculous, and give it his own twist, and in a few cases he left me gasping with laughter. There was a lot of obscure information with which I was unfamiliar, despite my unhealthy obsession with Bullfinch and Graves.
Loved this. Laughed so much. This would make a superlative classroom support book or recommended text for history, classics, group read, home library, etc. Good, well written, worthy historical commentary doesn't have to be boring. What a treasure Mr. Fry is.
Five stars. I'll be revisiting this one and the first volume, and I can't wait to get my grubby little paws on the next one.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.