What a wonderful book! We have been treated to a host of fiction books re-imagining mythological events or characters over the last twelve months (Circe, The Silence of the Girls, Home Fire, The Song of Achilles), but contemporary non-fiction versions that are readable, rather than purely academic, are harder to find. This book by Fry is readable and entertaining. The reader can't help but have Fry's distinctive voice in mind when reading this - I do hope he brings out the audio version!

Because this does read more like a novel, there isn't an index, which I would personally find helpful in a hard copy but if you're reading the soft copy, you can always do a search for any key terms.

I always remember having to read Greek mythology in high school and it being very dry and hard to get through. If you've always wanted to read about the myths without the dry academic tone, you should read Mythos. Stephen Fry's sarcasm and modernizing make the myths more interesting for the modern age. I do believe you still need to enter this book with interest in mythology because the myths are still the myths, just told in a new, more humorous way.

I have been meaning to learn more about Greek mythology for so long but just found the stories so dense that I can never get my head around it - until now! What a fabulous way to relive the Greek myths and gods - Stephen Fry details everything you need to know in his trademark quick-witted style. Can't wait to visit Greece later in the year and look out for some of these myth remnants.

I love mythology and used myths in my middle school teaching. I wish Fry’s book had been around then and I look forward to the next entries. Entertaining and well-told.

This was an advanced copy courtesy of netgalley - many thanks

Love Stephen Fry so this was always going to be a winner !!!

I've always found the Greek Myths a little confusing - love Stephen Fry's take - witty approach works for me - now have it all straight in my head !!

Stephen Fry's voice is throughout which is entertaining in itself - really enjoyed this

The only fly in the ointment was the format - it would have been great to have it in Kindle format and so have the opportunity to read on my Kindle - I tend to do my reading during my lunch hour at work or in the evenings, whereas here, I only had a protected Epub so could really only access and read on my laptop - maybe something for the publishers to think about for future ARC readers

Still giving it 5 stars though !!!

I love reading about Greek Mythology, so I really liked this book. It's a good book whether you're new to Greek Mythology or if you already have some knowledge of the myths. The book did a great job explaining the origins of the myths and the creation of everything. I also enjoyed the humor that Stephen Fry injected into the myths with their dialogue.

I have a huge appreciation for Stephen Fry, and this book did not diminish that. I definitely would have loved to have heard him read this because I am sure it would have been phenomenal. However, I enjoyed this read and his rendition of traditional Greek mythology. I would definitely read this again, just for the fun of it.

While I enjoyed this read, love Stephen Fry, and would read this again, the text itself didn't stand out in the way I would have liked.

Stephen Fry’s work is an acquired taste and is not always appreciated. His irreverent and saucy retelling of Greek mythology is quite possibly the most hilarious thing I’ve read this year. The irreverence, however, is a light blanket over some serious and thorough research. Fry knows his subject well enough to skewer the gods with 21st century wit and humor. Well done!

This book was everything I was hoping for and more. Stephen Fry has such a way with words that you can't help but to be drawn in. All the stories I knew and was taught as a child were here, but retold here in a way that kept me wanting more. The cover is absolutely beautiful as well and really catches your eye. I would recommend this to anyone interested in the old Greek myths, those who like history, and those that just want to have a good time. 4 out 5 stars. Bloody brilliant.

Interesting book. I love Greek Myths and Stephen Fry is a great writer. :) He makes the Greek myths interesting and dramatic. :) 'I would have loved using that as my reading book in school...

Thank you Chronicle Books for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley!

I love Greek Mythology. I really enjoy Stephen Fry. So really, it was a match made in heaven for me.

It can be tricky to maintain interest in non-fiction, but Fry's voice brings each and every story to life. The stories are witty, engaging, and modernized. It was entertaining to read about each of the stories, even those of the Titans, through Fry's lens. My only complaint has to do with the formatting of the ARC, which I found difficult to read due to its smaller scale and watermark.

I plan to purchase a hard copy for my classroom library.

I've always been incredibly fond of Greek Mythology, so much to the point that I almost never turn down an opportunity to read one of its many amazing stories. I've bought multiple books, requested multiple copies, and borrowed more than I can recall over the years. I wouldn't say that I'm an expert or anything, but I can say that I've loved these stories for an immensely long time. And over the many years that I've spent reading each and every piece of mythology that has ever found its way into my hands, I was utterly and completely blown away by this new collection put together by Stephen Fry. In truth, I wasn't really expecting to fall madly in love with the way Fry tells these stories in <i>Mythos</i>, but somehow it has managed to become my all-time favorite collection of Greek myths, and it really all comes down to the writing style.

<i>Mythos </i>begins with, for lack of a better word, <em>the beginning</em>. And it moves forward through the tales of the Titans, slowly introducing readers into the world and all the stories that fill it. And as you read you become truly immersed in the events of the mythos, traveling from one fantastical story to another and learning so much more than you already knew about the world, more than you realized you would. And the voice of the narrator for this entire book was so utterly engaging and brilliant that I'm certain, at this point, that <i>Mythos </i>is the best collection of Greek Myths that I've found up to this point in my life.

There's really no question about the fact that I'll be getting myself a copy of this book at some point in the future. I enjoyed the way each story was written and presented so much and ultimately I've always wanted a book of Greek Myths that I'd re-read over and over again. Perhaps someday I'll find another collection that I like even more, but for now, this one's taken the number one spot as my favorite.

<i>I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Short version posted on Goodreads (Recommended & Thoughts) and full version posted on blog here: https://baileysbooks.home.blog/2019/06/09/mythos-by-stephen-fry/

I have also been recommending this to my teacher friends for use in their classrooms as excerpts in their units, as it will certainly work well for that!

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Mythos by Stephen Fry – 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

Recommended: Yes!!!
For teachers, students, people who like to laugh, and those who want some explanations for why things are the way they are, via the antics and follies of humans and gods.


A gorgeous reworking of the original versions’ cover
Summary
This book is a challenge to define by genre. What do I call it? Fiction? Non-fiction? Religion? History?? Regardless, you’re led through the creation of everything straight up to actual recorded history, where myth blends with fact, by our lovely guide Stephen Fry. His humor and passion for the topic work perfectly together to make these legends feel so relatable and engaging, while also teaching a hell of a lot. The Titans who are the basis of life, the New Gods led by rebellious and lecherous Zeus, and the endless demi-god offspring they produce all get their own stories here. This new edition features photographs and images from sculptures, paintings, and other art based around the stories told within. It’s a lovely touch to see such lavish recreations from the time these stories are based on.

Thoughts:
Man, I took a risk when I started this book. When I went through Circe and was so disappointed, I was left craving some good mythology and took a chance on this. I was unsure if a 300+ page book of straight Greek myths would be able to hold my interest. I put my trust in Stephen Fry, however, and BOY DID IT EVER PAY OFF! I never imagined I’d be cackling over Hera and cheering on Prometheus while on the train to work, garnering stares. Fry has such a deep passion for the topic. He really did his research, and it shows. The clear tracking of the seemingly endless deities and humans they collide with is an impressive feat. Add to that his clever footnote additions for an extra joke, further context, or linguistic heritage (my personal favorites), and this was a delightful package of a book. I was able to read it straight through since there’s the story of the world building, but also the sections for each new person we meet. You’ll learn a lot reading this, but you’ll also have a lot of fun reading this and that’s critical!

Just an extra note that Fry is super passionate about this topic. I would highly recommend using passages from this for teachers in higher levels, probably minimum 8th grade to 12th (some advanced vocabulary might bear explaining for any level, however). The tales are informative, funny, and memorable. For teachers (and students!!), that last is critical!

Here’s a little preview of the story, and of Fry’s recognizable style. He reads here a section from the book about Pandora and her opening of a seemingly unimportant little box.

Love Stephen Fry the actor and TV personality!! I am so glad all the wry wit comes through the page!! This book was such a fun rehashing of the Greek Myths. I am always a sucker for Gods and Goddesses and he made me love them all the more! I need to read more of Fry's work because it was a joy!

Greek mythology can often be dull, confusing and dry, but not so with Stephen Fry's rewrite! His witty charm shows through on each page, making this a delightful introduction to the subject.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of the American edition courtesy of the publishers via Netgalley.
When you really think about it, the Greek myths are about a very dysfunctional, screwy family. Cannibalism, incest, rape, bestiality – Greek gods do it all.
Stephen Fry’ Mythos is a chronicle of Greek myths, focusing on the gods, so there is no Troy in this volume.
Fry writes like he talks – and this is a good thing. To a person who has read anything about the Greek Myths already, the stories are familiar. What makes this edition at least worth a read is Fry’s use of language and turn of phrase. He pokes fun at names, takes a strange joy in describing someone juggling testicles, and comments about various degrees of parenthood that the gods model.
If you have listened to Fry do anything, you can have him narrator the book in your mind and it works so well.
There are Terry Pratchett worthy footnotes – the type that contain information and will make you snort milk out of your nose. You can learn about the meaning of names as well as connections to modern times or about virgin births.
The book is lavishly illustrated with photos of famous art depicting certain events and figures. The artwork ranges in age from ancient Greek to modern works.
The afterword includes more information such as myth vs religion and what exactly ancient Greece was. There is also a source listing.
It is a good introduction to the Greek Gods in a fun way.

Nonfiction can be dry and difficult to read, but a good way to skirt around this is to write about Greek mythology. The myths and history will always be interesting, but there's the uniqueness of Stephen Fry's voice throughout this- sarcasm, the "modernized" conversations, it made it work for me. I would've loved to be able to hear this read by Fry, but the proof was still good. Of course, while I love to complain, the watermark wasn't bad enough to make me give it 1 star, because I knew that it wasn't important to the story and it seriously didn't make it that hard to read.