Customer Reviews

A Gift from Zeus

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A lovely retelling of classical mythology, but should hardly be included among "children's books." To begin with, as another reviewer has noted, the illustrations are a bit too "irreverant." Descriptions of how Daedalus fashions a wooden cow for his queen to enjoy a sexual encounter with a bull seems far too adult a subject for an intended audience of 9-12 year-old readers. I had bought this book intending to read it with my six-year-old son, but it will be a few more years (quite a few) before he will see it. I am just not ready to explain to him what "ravish" means. I am very familiar with classical Greek mythology and should have known better than to have bought a book of it for a child. However, its being included in Amazon's children's section convinced me that it would be "safe." This book would be better classified as "teen" or some such. Not for children.

The Steigs have done a tremendous job in this book of retelling 16 of the most popular Greek myths. Most importantly, they have done so without altering the details of the myths or losing their original spirit -- which tends to happen all too often with contemporary retellings of myths.

I do, however, have a few problems with the book. One is that it isn't clear to me who the intended audience should be -- it is not nearly comprehensive enough to be of use to the serious student of mythology, but it is also NOT written for kids. (A note to teachers -- this is a seriously "PG-13" book, and emphatically NOT for use in a classroom!)

My other problem is with some of the choices of myths: For example, how in the world could a collection of "sixteen favorite myths" leave out the twelve labors of Hercules? And some of the others, like the story of Europa, are just not all that interesting to begin with.

In short, the myths presented are done well. However, the book would have been better had the author decided to compile a more complete collection of stories, or had she decided to retell the ones she chose in a less "salacious" manner.

unless you want to be dead or inanimate. This book is delightfully wry in its retellings, and William Steig's illustrations strike the perfect (irreverent) note. It's not really a kids' book, mostly because few kids will appreciate the dry humor, but I think there are plenty of 10 and ups who will understand what is going on (and if they don't, no big deal). True, I won't be able to get away with reading it to my (K-6)school library classes, but there are plenty of kids in the 10 plus age range for whom it's appropriate. If they can read it and they want to read it, let them! Of greater importance: don't miss it yourself!

I applaud the idea of bringing myths to young people. I deplore this choice.

There are dozens of myths that would be more understandable and certainly more interesting than Electra lusting over her father. The Steigs probably feel they put one over on us; they told some mildly dirty stories and got attention from people who feel children need to be introduced to the classics. As another reviewer observed, the obvious omission of Hercules gives a clue as to their priorties.

Bleah.

If you want your kids to learn the myths, go get D'Aulaires.

A Gift from Zeus succinctly tells sixteen classical myths in humorous prose interspersed with witty verse. Those myths are the stories of Prometheus, Demeter and Persephone, Midas, Daphne and Apollo, Leda, Pygmalion, Europa, Venus and Adonis, Daedalus and Icarus, Arachne, Hero and Leander, Perseus, Echo and Narcissus, Bellerophon, Theseus, and Orpheus and Eurydice. The language ("On the ravaged earth he ravaged the girl") and drawings are NOT for young children. This book is for teens and adults and is best enjoyed by someone who knows the myths already. If you're looking for a serious and comprehensive overview of Classical Mythology, try Edith Hamilton's Mythology. If you want a funny, irreverent look at myths, this book is for you.