Bell, a retired librarian formerly with the University of California, has gathered an impressive array of information on the female divinities, surnames, monsters, wives, animals, mothers, lovers, heroines, and villains of classical Greek and Roman mythology. The coverage is extensive, including both the obscure and well known. Entries are in dictionary format and range in length from a brief paragraph to several pages. The various myths are retold well in nontechnical language with occasional character insights. The book is quite browsable and could easily spark deeper interest. A name index, called "The Men in Their Lives," will lead from the better-known male character to his less recognizable female acolyte. The restriction to only women of mythology, however, limits the usefulness of the work. A better source for general use is Edward Tripp's Crowell's Handbook of Classical Mythology ( LJ 12/1/70). For subject collections or academic libraries.
- Marianne Cawley, Kingwood Branch Lib., Tex.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"Although Greco-Roman mythology has traditionally been presented as 'tales of gods and heroes,' this clear, modern reference reeals the importance and diversity of the goddesses and heroines who also figured in these stories. Bell carefully organizes the confusing changes that occurred in individual myths over time, and lists the numerous entities that share a single name (there were seven Europas). These carefully documented entries proide a useful counter to half-baked New Age 'goddess' evocations."--The Los Angeles Times Book Review
"Bell...has gathered an impressie array of information....Fills a major gap in the reference literature of classical mythology."--Library Journal
"The author is able to delineate history from legend and legend from myth. He is sensitive to the political and social position of women in the classical world. He editorializes with a light pen or humorous turn of phrase....The more obscure names included here that aren't found in standard dictionaries of mythology make it especially helpful."--Booklist
"Bell's comments...make these distant figures familiar and accessible....[An] imaginative, invaluable reference on classical mythology."--Wilson Library Bulletin
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