The Universe, the Gods, and Men: Ancient Greek Myths Told by Jean-Pierre Vernant
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.36 (849 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0060957506 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 224 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2016-06-17 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
Jean-Pierre Vernant is a professor at the Collège de France in Paris and one of the foremost classicists of our time. He is the author of numerous scholarly books on Greek thought, myths, tragedy, politics, society, and religion.Linda Asher, a former editor at The New Yorker, has translat
In this enchanting retelling of Greek myth, Jean-Pierre Vernant combines his deep knowledge of the subject with an original storytelling style. In recounting these tales, he unravels for us their multiple meanings and brings to life the beloved figures of legend whose narratives lie at the origin of our civilization.. His narrative takes readers from the Trojan War to the voyage of Odysseus, from the story of Dionysus to the terrible destiny of Oedipus, to Perseus's confrontation with the Gorgons.Jean-Pierre Vernant has devoted himself to the study of Greek mythology. Beginning with the creation of Earth out of Chaos, Vernant continues with the castration of Uranus, the war between the Titans and the Olympian gods, the wily ruses of Prometheus and Zeus, and the creation of Pandora, the first woman
Vernant takes a traditional approach as he explores the mythic foundations of the creation of the earth, the birth of the Titans, and the enduring momentum of human heritage. From Library Journal Drawing on fond memories of regaling his grandson with "once upon a time" tales from Greek legend, acclaimed classicist Vernant recounts seven of these tales in a gentle, conversational style. The casually arranged entries include readable accounts of Prometheus, Pandora, Odysseus, Dionysus, Oedipus, and other legendary figures whose narratives reveal a compelling path pertinent to our own civilization. . A rich treasury for all read
The only book of its kind for children and Greek mythology What the previous reviewer seems to have misunderstood is Vernant's point: that this is a book of stories to be told to one's children. Thus, a dialogue naturally begins when the child asks a question like "who is that?" Vernant presupposes only one thing: that the adult who is reading the story will fill in the details regarding the Greek myths as he or she wishes, or is asked questions about. He presupposes that the adult is already familiar with the myths, and is introducing them for the first time to his or her child. A parent obviousl. "Poetic account of the myths" according to A Customer. I almost didn't buy this book because of the low customer reviews, but then I used the "look inside" feature and liked what I saw. I did order the book and I'm very glad I did. I teach creative writing at the college level and will recommend this book to my students. I find the tellings to be very clear and also very poetic. As a writer, I turn to myths to help me find my own stories--this book, I know, will pull many stories out of my unconscious, where they now are hidden "in the depths of the Earth; the void." I also find the author's i. Greek mythology stripped of all its drama and excitement D. Cloyce Smith This slim book reduces Greek mythology to its barest essentials. Vernant starts with the creation stories; skims through the "clash of the titans," Prometheus and Pandora, the Trojan War, Odysseus, Dionysus, Oedipus; and ends quite abruptly with Perseus and Medusa--all in 180 sparse pages. Along the way, the author strips these stories of all their depth, drama, and momentum. Entire battle scenes and plot twists are reduced to single sentences. His effort to make Greek mythology simple is unforgivably simplistic; all the excitement is thor