He has rewritten these stories in a lighthearted way, adding in dialogue and mannerisms that he thinks fit but without losing the essence of the myth or the heart of the story. Overall I greatly enjoyed Fry's tone and writing style. Fry comments at the end of his book that great ancient writers like Ovid (43 BCE to 17 CE) took creative license to these stories, and this fact emboldened him to be as imaginative as he wanted in his retellings. The thing about myths is that even in the ancient world, they were adapted and changed, so any colloquialisms and quips added into these stories by Fry is simply a continuation of a 3000-year-long tradition.

There are a lot of retellings in the world, but this one is by far one of the most entertaining ones I have read. After introducing the main gods and their stories, Fry takes us through many of Zeus' conquests, stories of divine revenge and retribution, and popular stories featuring our Olympian gods. (ix)Īny colloquialisms & quips added into these stories by Fry is simply a continuation of a 3000-year-long tradition.įry does an exceptional job at creating a somewhat linear narrative for all of these myths that were undoubtedly collected from numerous ancient sources and authors. The Greeks created gods that were in their image warlike but creative, wise but ferocious, loving but jealous, tender but brutal, compassionate, but vengeful. Fry does a wonderful job conveying the beginning of existence and then moves through the development of the world with the Titans, the Olympian gods, the nymphs, the lesser gods, and all other divine beings.

Stephen Fry has compiled the core myths from Greek mythology, beginning with the cosmogony or creation of the universe with the protogenoi or primordial god Chaos who was quickly followed by Gaia (Earth), Tartarus (the depths), Erebus (darkness), Nyx (night), Hemera (day), and Aether (light). Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold by Stephen Fry is his first book in his Greek Mythology series. Fry has managed to retell the Greek myths in a somewhat linear way, and he has added his own flair and enjoyable writing style to these well-loved stories. Mythos begins with the beginning of the universe and then retells the myths of all of the gods and goddesses you should know in Greek mythology in a really engaging, and entertaining way. If you want to get into Greek Mythology but you are not sure where to start, then Mythos by Stephen Fry is the perfect book for you. Mythos: The Greek Myths Reimagined (Stephen Fry's Greek Myths)

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