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The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony Paperback – February 8, 1994

by
Roberto Calasso (Author)
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Roberto Calasso (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 34 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 420 pages
  • Publisher: Vintage; Reprint edition (February 8, 1994)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0679733485
  • ISBN-13: 978-0679733485
  • Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 1.1 x 8.1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #437,434 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsRape, Plunder, and Sordid Hi-jinks
By Richard Wells on August 14, 2001
Format: Paperback
"The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony," is a marvelous retelling of the Greek myths that puts a trace on their source, and a track on their permutations. More importantly Roberto Calasso explores their ramifications on modern times. And, he does it in a scholarly and entertaining way that never pulls us from the full world of ancient Greece that he recreates. Oh, those gods and goddesses were steeped in gore, and would wreck whatever havoc was necessary to have their ways with humanity and each other. The blood of every hero seems to begin with a sanctified seduction or rape, and end in a pool either before the gates of Troy, or as a result of that ten year war. Not to say that the humans act or fare any better than their divine counterparts. The greatest among them were small in their motives as they pursued homicide, parricide, matricide, infanticide and every other side of slaughter they could summon into being. But, as small as they were, they were heroes; and, as petty as they were, they were the gods; and their actions, reactions, and inactions shaped and continue to shape Western culture. "The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony" is a fitting companion piece to "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey," and stands alone as a thrilling tale of the mortal and immortal excesses that have formed us.
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5.0 out of 5 starsA life-changing work of genius
By A Customer on November 20, 1996
Format: Paperback
Roberto Calasso's retelling of the myths of antiquity is as
powerful and life-changing a book as I've ever read. He
illuminates these stories and brings them to life, showing us
the power they held for the ancients by infusing them with
his own narrative power, writing in a style which is crisp,
modern, and yet full of fantasy. We see our own lives in the
lives of the gods and the lives of the humans with whom
they spoke, made love, made war.

This book would be worth reading simply for the engaging way
in which Calasso tells the stories. He doesn't stop there,
however. His insights and interpretations are worth a book in
themselves. Nearly every page of my copy is filled with
checks and underlined passages, each representing ideas which
provoked thought or simply struck me as brilliant. This book
is not another dictionary of myths in the style of Bullfinch
and Hamilton and Graves--it is a work of literature in its own
right, and, I believe, a work of genius.

If you are interested in classical mythology, read this book.
If you are not, read this book. It is for anyone who wants
to see the world in a different, richer way.
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5.0 out of 5 starsAn unforgettable masterpiece in the eyes of a teenager.
By A Customer on May 23, 1999
Format: Paperback
I first saw this book, very thick, one year ago, poking out of some shelf at my school's library. 'Greek myth, huh?' I was up for the challenge. I guess I knew the stories well, but the brilliant narrative and style was so absorbing, I was hooked. Calasso re-opened my eyes to the World of Greek myth! I can't remember how many times I went back to take this book out- more then five, as far as I know. What I enjoyed about it most was how each of the characters was brought to life, each with thoughts, and fears, and desires not unlike that of mankind today. The first time I finished this book I felt Calasso had altered my life, or my perspective on it. I had to go back and read it again, and again. Simply a work of art, this is a treasure of wealth in the form of written knowledge. And, personally, I don't care who you are or where you are form, just read this book. You'll see what I mean.
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4.0 out of 5 starsAn enlightening interpretation of Greek mythology.
By Monika on February 18, 2005
Format: Paperback
"The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony" is a truly ambitious work. Roberto Calasso has gathered together the various tales in Greek mythology, including the works of Hesiod and Homer, and put them together into one cohesive whole. Rather than simply retelling these well-known stories, the book shows the interconnectedness of events and characters, tying everything together. Calasso writes with a style that is both narrative and scholarly. He takes time to dig deeply into the underlying themes of Greek mythology, producing some profound and thought-provoking insights, but at the same time keeps the tone animated, retaining the feel that this is an epic story rather than a dry scholarly analysis.

Despite the choice of title, the characters of Cadmus and Harmony are only mentioned a few times in passing in the main body of the work. It is not until the final chapter that they take center stage. Calasso opens the book with Zeus's abduction of Europa, and ties this in with a general theme of abduction to be found throughout Greek mythology. Then he slowly works his way back in time, taking us, in the middle of the book, to the very beginning, the creation story of the Greeks. From there Calasso moves forward once again, relating the fall of Athens, the decline of ancient Greece, and the slow fading of the gods from earthly life.

"The mythographer," Calasso says, "lives in a permanent state of chronological vertigo" (281). While he does make the stories flow together, it would be impossible to put them in a definite order. Trying to do so would drive one mad, and it is advisable to just sit back and enjoy the stories without worrying too much about their placement in time.Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsWhere did it all begin??? But really, where???

Interesting way of looking at history and mythology.

Published 1 month ago by anne t geffner
4.0 out of 5 starsThe author obviously has spent a good deal to time studying greek...

The author obviously has spent a good deal to time studying greek mythology and literature and contemporary literature. Read more

Published 11 months ago by don morgan
5.0 out of 5 starsMasterful re-telling of Greek cosmology meshed with erudite philosophy

Calasso is a one-of-a-kind thinker writing a book no one else could. A masterful re-telling of Greek mythos and cosmology, Calasso twists erudite philosophy into every line and... Read more

Published 11 months ago by Jeremy
5.0 out of 5 starsand I still love reading it - time after time

Poetically penned, and I still love reading it - time after time!

Published 12 months ago by pamporos
1.0 out of 5 starsAvoid it like the plague

I have read this book - but have no idea what the author was trying to say. Avoid it like the plague.

Published 14 months ago by Jeffry L. Smith
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Poetic and beautifully woven.

Published 15 months ago by Siobhan
4.0 out of 5 starsAvoid Kindle version

This is a review of the Kindle formatting - avoid the Kindle version if you have any interest in linking text to the sources. Read more

Published 17 months ago by SC Peterson
4.0 out of 5 starsThe only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is ...

The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I can't ever follow Greek Mythology. I can barely follow contemporary mythology, you know?

Published 19 months ago by Bearrica Danger
5.0 out of 5 starsEnjoyable

Relevant, coherent, braiding together a number of things to come together, at last, with a story worth telling, and which has a lyrical quality above and beyond that of standard... Read more

Published on August 4, 2014 by athenenike
1.0 out of 5 starsPoor Quality Image

This particular version of the paperback has very bad image quality. The text and illustrations are blury. Also, the text is not centered on the page. Read more

Published on April 7, 2014 by Eric Hartline

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