Mythos by Stephen Fry

I thought Fry’s book was an absolutely brilliant retelling of the Greek myths.

As a beginner to the Greek myths but having been interested in myth, folklore, and fairy tales all my life, I was so intrigued to see how Fry would translate such a complicated web of relationships and stories into a singular book. He made it work so well, I was engaged with every story, even if I occasionally got confused about whose sister/mother/father/brother was doing what to who.

I love myths and folklore for the way that they can tell human truths in the most absurd ways because we can’t explain ourselves without some magic and fantasy. I also am fascinated by the ways that different societies use myth and story-telling to explain natural phenomena from the seasons to the stars to the animals. It gives such an insight into the way a culture thinks the world works and sees it as linked together. 

“The Greeks created gods that were in their image; warlike but creative, wise but ferocious, loving but jealous, tender but brutal, compassionate, but vengeful.”

Fry introduced lots of concepts and words which have been derived from the Greek words, Gods or ideas and how they relate to modern society. Also, how some of the Greek Gods were changed and edited for the Romans and their own set of myths. I find it fascinating the way that language can evolve and is always using old words to create new ones and I think the Greeks understood that concepts and phenomena were easier to understand when they were given as a narrative with characters. 

I read the physical book and listened to the audiobook which is read by Fry himself which made it even better. I have watched Fry host QI (British TV series) for years and so could easily see him reading me the Greek myths. 

This book has made me feel equipped to try out some of the modern retellings of Greek myths which I am excited to try like Madeline Miller’s books, The Song of Achilles and Circe, and The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker. And to also try out the originals like the classics The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer.

“Of course the Greeks were not the only people to weave a tapestry of legends and lore out of the puzzling fabric of existence.”

It has inspired me to try and find a book on myths from another part of the world like within Asia or Africa or from an indigenous culture. If anyone has any suggestions, I would love to know about them. As I’m interested to see how the ideas of the Greeks compare with other cultures and how they have translated into the modern world in all the separate societies that now exist.