CI 5442: Folklore Book Review

“Before Luke Skywalker, before Batman, before even King Arthur, there were the Greek heroes. Those guys knew how to fight!” (v). Thus begins Rick Riordan’s introduction to the latest edition of Roger Lancelyn Green’s Tales of the Greek Heroes. Riordan attributes his own success to his early encounter with Green’s text and, clearly, many thanks are due. Without Green’s comprehensive and all-encompassing presentation of some of the greatest myths and characters ever created, Riordan would perhaps have never given us Percy Jackson. Green recreates the famous mythology of the ancient Greeks in a new and refreshing way that makes the book impossible to put down.

The tales of the first Greek gods and heroes have been told many times before, but they have not been connected in such a grand narrative as put down by Green since their origin in Greek oral tradition. Green is able to seamlessly piece together every story with such ease that it is a wonder that it hasn’t been done before. One of the most difficult things about introducing children to Greek mythology is the disconnect—or seeming disconnect—between characters and stories. Combine this disconnect with the multitude of unfamiliar and similar names and it becomes a headache for all. Green not only provides illuminating insight into the personal history of each character, he also weaves their stories together in a way that is easy to follow and allows for time sufficient understanding and knowledge of each character.

As with many representations of mythology, Green works to create believable dialogue where none is certain. Green’s diction and dialogue is accessible and provides a more dynamic, narrative quality to the text. It is with this dialogue and careful writing that readers follow the gods from their creation and rise to power continuing on until the end of the Age of Heroes.
Something that Green does remarkably well is to adapt these stories and condense them without losing any of the magic which gives them life. Green admits that he has made some creative decisions and was forced to edit the depth in which each story is presented, but it does not detract from the text and the stories he is recounting to his audience.

A feature that is unique and delightful within the text is the inclusion of either a famous interpretation of the myths or an actual translation of the first recorded accounts of the myths by famous Greek writers at the beginning of each chapter. This grounds the myth as being something extremely valuable and provides validity of its ancient history. In doing this, Green provides readers with a glimpse of the lyrical quality that was either the oral tradition of the story first transcribed hundreds of years ago or the classic interpretations of those who were inspire by such famous tales. All in all Green’s interpretation of some of the most famous Greek myths is seamless in its ability to weave the various texts together “as that single whole which the Greeks believed it to be” (267). The stories educate and inspire all who read them and will remain with them long after the final pages have been turned for, “Once found, the magic web of old Greek myth and legend is ours by right—and ours for life” (270).