Synopsis
Bursting into life in the hands of Adrian Mitchell, here are some of the brightest, loveliest, and most powerful myths ever written. Recreated from Ovid's Metamorphoses, these stories, ballads, and headline news articles let the Minotaur, King Midas, Arachne, Bacchus, Persephone, and many more haunting figures walk the Earth once more. Stunning artwork by Alan Lee, the most acclaimed fantasy illustrator of our time, brings to life these stories, creating a children's classic to bewitch a new generation raised in a world of special effects.
Children's Literature
This book is a unique look into the work of the ancient poet Ovid. Ovid is well-known for his Metamorphoses, myths about the transformations of people and things. While the authentic Latin text is often not introduced until later years of Latin study, this compilation of Ovid's work is a great basic, introductory reader of the famous stories. Although liberty has been taken with the interpretation of the original Latin, these translations are relatively clear, though some language may be difficult to understand for younger readers. Stories of Phaethon, Arachne, the Minotaur, Narcissus, and many others are retold through both prose and poetry. The accompanying artwork for each page is astounding with the detail and vivid use of color, though some of the images are perhaps a bit more real than one's initial thought of mythological pictures might bring. However, this would be a great resource for teachers of earlier years of Latin because of the larger font and illustrations and because it could provide opportunity for easing into the study of the original myth. This is also a great extension of basic mythology for students who have an interest in that area. Reviewer: K. Meghan Robertson