While I'm on the subject of books

[prince_eric]

So, I'm ordering a copy of the Mabinogion, to get an overview of the Welsh mythos. I've also got a copy of Edith Hamilton's Mythology, which covers the Greek/Roman gods pretty well, as well as copies of The Illiad and The Odyssey, and I'm also pretty sure that I've got something on the Arthurian stuff somewhere.

At this point, though, I seem to have a pretty good gap on just about everything else. Anyone have any recommendations? I'm also interested in if anyone has any info on good versions of things like the Bible (King James?), Koran, Torah, etc. I'm more interested in good, general references that cover all of a particular mythos, then in retellings of specific bits (i.e. a good, overall covering of the Norse gods and heroes, then something that covers one story in detail).

Comments

[publius1.livejournal.com]

Edith Hamilton's Mythology is easily the worst mythology book ever. It reads like a high-school essay on each of the gods, and it couldn't make the whole pantheon more boring. You're better with a child's book on the Gods than with Hamilton's book. Seriously.

The King James version of the Bible, while done in some of the most beautiful English ever published, is highly inaccurate. The NIV (or the NNIV?) is likely your best bet.

Edith Hamilton's book on the Greek myths

[prince-eric.livejournal.com]

Edith Hamilton's Mythology is easily the worst mythology book ever. It reads like a high-school essay on each of the gods, and it couldn't make the whole pantheon more boring. You're better with a child's book on the Gods than with Hamilton's book. Seriously.

That could be -- I have the book because we had it assigned as a summer reading in high school, and as I'd read just about every book on Greek and Roman myths I could get my hands on when younger, it served as a decent refresher ("Io? Who was she, again? ... Oh, yeah.").

[arielstarshadow.livejournal.com]

I hope you enjoy the Mabinogion as much as I did, and it's always nice to find another fan of Steven Brust. -grin-

As far as Hamilton is concerned: she may not be the most entertaining reading around as far as the Greek and Roman mythos are concerned, but she is pretty thorough as far as who is who and so forth.

[montoya.livejournal.com]

Norse Mythology for Dummies is a great book. (I think I'm kidding, but you never know.)

[desdenova.livejournal.com]

Last time I went on a folklore & mythology kick, the best books (that is, those best balance between accessability/readability and content) I found were in the "Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library" series. I have the Norse Mythology book (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0394748468/qid=1104195402/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/103-0737306-1708621?v=glance&s=books&n=507846), the Native American folklore/legends book (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0394740181/qid=1104195402/sr=8-10/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i10_xgl14/103-0737306-1708621?v=glance&s=books&n=507846), and the Japanese folk tales book (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0394756568/qid=1104195402/sr=8-6/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i6_xgl14/103-0737306-1708621?v=glance&s=books&n=507846), all of which I enjoyed.