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Greek Myths
Greek Myths
Dec 21, 2024 7:49 AM

Author:Charlotte Higgins,Chris Ofili

Greek Myths

'A great storyteller' Madeline Miller, author of Circe

In this powerful new collection, Charlotte Higgins foregrounds Greek mythology's most enduring heroines.

Here are the myths of Heracles and Theseus, the Trojan war, Thebes and Argos and Athens. They are stories of love and desire, adventure and magic, destructive gods, helpless humans, fantastical creatures and resourceful witches.

In this telling the female characters take centre stage as Athena, Helen, Circe, Penelope and others weave these stories into elaborate imagined tapestries. In Charlotte Higgins's thrilling new interpretation of these ancient stories, their tales combine to form a dazzling, sweeping epic of storytelling.

With a series of original drawings by Chris Ofili.

Reviews

Higgins is a wonderful scholar, and a great story teller. I've been loving these retellings, cleverly centered around the theme of myths told in tapestry.

—— Madeline Miller, author of THE SONG OF ACHILLES and CIRCE

[Higgins] leads us through the labyrinth of interconnected stories in a startlingly fresh way. It throws radiant new light on their meanings... This excellent book should delight many generations of story lovers to come.

—— Edith Hall , Guardian

[An] erudite and exhilarating collection... luminous, astute retellings.

—— Hephzibah Anderson , Observer

[A] scholarly, capacious reimagining... Higgins makes you feel for these tormented, accursed mortals afresh.

—— Claire Allfree , The Times

We are in the hands of a fine, fluent storyteller... Higgins, like the bards who first unspooled these tales, creates the illusion of spontaneity and handles suspense brilliantly... Chris Ofili's drawings complement the lyricism of the prose descriptions. Higgins depicts art mediating life - the reason, I think, that we read books... I loved this book.

—— Sara Wheeler , Spectator

The feminism is subtle but persistent... This isn't about imposing modern values on ancient texts... her compendium deftly tracks the format of Ovid's Metamorphoses, one tale blurring into the next. But even readers who think they know their classics will discover some surprises.

—— Rachel Cunliffe , New Statesman

Exceptionally well researched... The prose is almost neoclassical, in being limpid and allusive, clear and nebulous at one and the same time.

—— Stuart Kelly , The Scotsman, Books of the Year

Charlotte Higgins captures the raw, magical originality of the Greek myths in this beguiling book, charmingly illustrated by Chris Ofili... She knows her classics - and her myths - inside out.

—— Harry Mount , Catholic Herald

A gritty and exhilarating new version of the ancient stories in which the female characters take centre stage.

—— Katy Guest , Guardian

Higgins invests the tales with surprising new meanings... The command of Higgins herself, as the master weaver of myths, emerges forcefully....Ancient myths here acquire compelling modern form.

—— Booklist, Starred Review

A beautifully designed book, with Chris Ofili's accompanying drawings giving it an extra sparkle.

—— Susan Swarbrick and Teddy Jamieson , Herald, *Christmas Gift Guide 2021*

Greek Myths is a gripping collection of stories... The addition of illustrations, done by Chris Ofili, add to the elegance of the book... I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Greek mythology.

—— Impact Nottingham
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