12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ian Myles Slater on A Fine Book Under Any Title, October 2, 2003
This review is from: The Meridian Handbook of Classical Mythology (Paperback)
Edward Tripp's encyclopedic survey of Greek and Roman myths was originally published in hardcover 1970, in the United States by the Thomas Y. Crowell Co. as "Crowell's Handbook of Classical Mythology," with a simultaneous Canadian edition, and in Britain by Barker as just "The Handbook of ...". It was reissued as a trade paperback under the New American Library's Meridian imprint under title "Meridian Handbook" in 1974, and continued to be reprinted under this title, as the publishing industry was reshuffled, into the 1990s. So far as I can determine, the various editions are identical, so anyone looking for a copy can probably follow availability and price.
It now seems to be out of print, under any of the various titles, which is a shame. It is somewhat more comprehensive and generally easier to use than Kerenyi's admirable "Gods of the Greeks" and "Heroes of the Greeks," and far more reliable than Robert Graves' idiosyncratic and erratic "The Greek Myths." (One can hope for a future reprinting -- perhaps as "Tripp's Handbook..."?).
With its comprehensive coverage, and general preference for literary data over interpretation, Tripp's "Handbook" can serve as either a first-rate introduction or a convenient reference book, depending on a reader's needs and level of knowledge. A "pronouncing index" helpfully distinguishes traditional English pronunciations of names from currently favored approximations of the original Greek and Latin.
Tripp's dictionary-style arrangement of the material is easy to follow, the articles are usefully cross-referenced, and the sources in classical texts are carefully noted. The length of the article usually corresponds well to the prominence of the god or hero, but some relatively minor figures get the space needed to sort out contradictory reports. Most of the relevant classical writers get their own articles as well -- although it is often a good idea to look at the corresponding entry in Lillian Feder's "Handbook of Classical Literature" (also once published as "Crowell's Handbook...," and again as a "Meridian Handbook..." in paperback, and recently reprinted by Da Capo), for more specialized information in a similar format.
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best Guide to Classical Myths, May 5, 2005
This review is from: The Meridian Handbook of Classical Mythology (Paperback)
This is the best handbook of Classical Mythology I've ever encountered. It contains hundreds of entries of names (was anyone left out?), all in alphabetical order, of major and minor characters of the Greek and Roman myths. A very full account of each entry is given, including variants of many of the stories. Also included is a pronunciation index for most of the names listed. This is a tremendous resource for students and teachers alike. A great reference work.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best Myth Dictionary Out There, July 29, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: The Meridian Handbook of Classical Mythology (Paperback)
The entries in this book are written far more clearer than in Grimal's myth dictionary. In fact I have enjoyed it more than the works of Edith Hamilton. This is a must have for any budding mythologist.
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