Synopses & Reviews
From acclaimed writer and scholar Philip Freeman, a contemporary retelling of classic Greek and Roman mythology.The Greek and Roman myths have never died out; in fact they are as relevant today as ever. For thousands of years these myths have inspired plays, operas, paintings, movies, and television programs. They are fascinating tales that tell us about ourselves—about our hopes, fears, and desires, which are as ancient as mankind. Many of these myths are deeply disturbing; others are sublimely beautiful. All of them move us still, as they did the Greeks and Romans hundreds of generations ago.
Whether it is Zeus’s wandering eye, Theseus’s battle with the half-human, half-bull Minotaur, or the tribulations of lovers, such as Pyramus and Thisbe or Hero and Leander, these tales never fail to entertain. They are by turns sublimely beautiful and deeply disturbing; they provide valuable insights into the Greek and Roman imagination. They speak to fundamental aspects of human nature—our hopes, fears, desires—that have not changed.
Philip Freeman’s vibrant, contemporary retelling makes us appreciate again why these wonderful tales have lasted thousands of years and charmed young and old readers alike.
Review
"Electrifying. . . . Freeman brings the contentious, devious, shape-shifting, revengeful gods and goddesses, from Zeus and Hera on down, to towering life, recounting their violent exploits with verve and clarity."
—Booklist
Review
"A thoroughly delightful book."
—Jules Wagman, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Review
"Each story is written eloquently and with sincere enthusiasm for the narration of these myths. . . . Highly accessible."
—Library Journal
Review
“Philip Freeman must be thanked for his contribution to the process of keeping the Classics alive in the modern world. . . . Oh My Gods is another contribution to the enlivening of antiquity and like his other works this collection is a thoughtful and essentially well-written work.”
Synopsis
The Greek and Roman myths have never died out; in fact they are as relevant today as ever in their sharp observations about human nature. For thousands of years they have inspired plays, operas, and paintings; today they live on in movies and video games. andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Oh My Godsandlt;/Iandgt; is a contemporary retelling of some of the most popular myths by Philip Freeman, a noted classicist. These tales of errant gods, fantastic creatures, and human heroes are brought to life in fresh and modern versions. Powerful Zeus; his perpetually aggrieved wife, Hera; talented Apollo; beautiful Aphrodite; fierce Athena; the dauntless heroes Theseus and Hercules; and the doomed lovers Orpheus and Eurydice still inspire awe, give us courage, and break our hearts. andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;From the astonishing tales of the Argonauts to the immortal narrative of the Battle of Troy, these ancient tales have inspired writers from Shakespeare to J. K. Rowling. In Philip Freemanand#8217;s vibrant retelling they will doubtless inspire a new generation of readers.
About the Author
andlt;bandgt;Philip Freemanandlt;/bandgt; is Qualley Professor of Classics at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and a former professor of classics at Washington University in St. Louis. He was selected as a visiting fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton for January 2012. He earned the first joint Ph.D. in classics and Celtic studies from Harvard University, and has been a visiting scholar at the Harvard Divinity School, the American Academy in Rome, and the Center for Hellenic Studies in Washington, D.C.andnbsp;The author of several previous books including andlt;iandgt;Alexander the Great,andlt;/iandgt;andnbsp;andlt;iandgt;St. Patrick of Ireland andlt;/iandgt;and andlt;iandgt;Julius Caesar, andlt;/iandgt;he lives with his family in Decorah, Iowa. Visit him at PhilipFreemanBooks.com.