ITT: Post books you were pleasantly surprised by and explain why
Pic rel. was a surprisingly excellent rundown of the relevant subjects, as well as providing some interesting comments regarding specific Greek storytellers, also explaining the differences between Roman adaptations of Greeks and discussing the likely reasons for the differences between accounts.
I was expecting it to be far more basic and dull.

>>24549041 (OP)
i found it pretty dull

>>24549041 (OP)
Does /lit/ recommend this or Graves?

>>24549198
Classical Mythology, Oxford, Graves and co, 15th ed. is the one you want

Do Hamilton and Graves offer anything on top of Hesiod's Theogony, Apollodorus' Mythological Library and Ovid's Metamorphoses?

>>24549420
No.

>>24549423
Thanks. I have read Theogony, and Mythological Library is next in line right after I deal with dozens of Euripides' dramas.

Also want to read Joseph Campbell - Hero with thousand faces, and maybe some other of his books on mythology.

>>24549420
>ough nine more editions while keeping their research in the fi eld current.
Our work is conceived as a comprehensive source where one may go to explore
in depth the nature of the Greek and Roman deities and the heroes and heroines
of saga; in a few words, a fundamental text for the serious study of the subject of
classical mythology. Yet we also have intended to provide a fertile source where
one may nourish a sympathetic understanding of the great mythological heritage
bestowed by classical antiquity.
> We also consider the great infl uence of classical
mythology upon diverse artistic forms (painting, sculpture, literature, music, op-
era, dance, theater, and cinema) to be a most enjoyable and rewarding subject, too
important to be ignored.
> Although this infl uence becomes the focus of the chap-
ters in Part Four (The Survival of Classical Mythology), it permeates all aspects
of our presentation throughout. The tenacious persistence of Greek and Roman
mythology undeniably remains vital and pervasive in our contemporary world.
Greek and Roman myths, of indelible beauty and with great power to inspire,
present a particularly fertile and inexhaustible venue for the appreciation of the
cultural, intellectual, and artistic history of Western civilization.
Originally, Professor Morford and Professor Lenardon each
Graves is a comfy read that I recommend all classic students have.
Every chapter contains a Bibliography, Primary sources, additional sources, additional material, art and notes. It is 'the' book for anyone seeking to study mythology.

>>24549436
Okay, so it's at least worth skimming through after having read the source material I listed above, correct?

>>24549440
>Theogony, Apollodorus,
It is worth STUDYING part 1 first (The Myth of Creation: the Gods) around 388 pages.
then read part 2 "The Greek Sagas" , 200 pages.
>Ovid Metamorphoses
Covered in part 3 mostly (The Nature of Roman Mythology) which is under 100 pages
Context first is important. The primary sources after each chapter have page counts and references you can go to

>>24549241
>Classical Mythology, Oxford, Graves and co, 15th ed.
There is Classical Mythology, Oxford, by Mark Morford, Robert J. Lenardon, and Michael Sham, 12th ed (2023) is the latest. Apparently that's the one you mean here >>24549482
Found a pdf

It’s been ages since I’ve read Mythology but Hamilton’s prose did not strike me as terrible engaging.

>>24549947
The point of it is to just get an overview of all the stories (or at least a common version of them).

>>24549847
>Found a pdf
Post

>>24549847
yeah i meant Morford 10th ed
>>24550266
Libgen has the 10th edition at 30mb and 11th at 235mb

>Classical Mythology (2023, Oxford, M. Morford, R.J. Lenardon, M. Sham)
The layout of that book is bad. To be able to read it on a tablet I cropped out the useless header, now Readera can trim the rest of white margins.
https://files.catbox.moe/i2hl7e.pdf

Some pages have these Audio markers, preventing the trim. Might delete them manually

>>24551627
Looks nice now

>>24549198
The Complete Greek Myths by Robert Graves is a perfect reference book for anyone getting into the Greeks. He also offers interesting insights as how certain cults and beliefs evolved into what we know them as. Pretty good reading.

>>24551654
Won't I get spoilers about the stories?

>>24551759
Where else are you going to read them? If you mean in Greek and Roman drama, they expect you to know what will happen. It’s more about the buildup than the plot.

>>24551940
I thought it was a book that gives an introduction to the myths and gives other info such as the authors and dating. I didn't know it was the myths themselves that were written in Graves' book. Do they fit entirely in the book? The Iliad and Odyssey I know do not.

>>24551642
>>24551627
it is a big fancy textbook with pictures. Not really meant for kindles

>>24552283
It's not meant even for 11 inch tablets. That's why I had to crop the pages.
Why would you mention kindles is beyond me.

>>24552303
i see a screen with text I call it a Kindle; I don't steal books

>>24551759
Nigga they're foundational to European culture and are ingrained in literature. You can't spoil them the way you can spoil a movie like the Usual Suspect.
The Greeks win, btw!.