COMPLETE GREEK MYTHS

A substantial gathering of ancient Greek myths and legends culled from classical sources and retold with present-day sensibilities in mind.

Broad and detailed enough to devote 35 pages to the Trojan War alone, this compendium begins with the shepherd Hesiod’s vision of the creation of Gaia and ends with the reunion of Odysseus and Penelope. Appealing, full-color character galleries at the head of each chapter help readers keep all the gods, demigods, monsters, and mortals straight. Though the authors characterize Zeus’ many rapes as “love affairs” spurred by his “lust for life” and tone down juicier events—for instance, Cronus merely “slashed” his dad Uranus with a sickle rather than cutting off his privates—the retellings feel fully fleshed out. Occasional embroideries (Perseus telling his tale in the first person; a suggestion that Persephone was fully aware of the consequences when she ate those pomegranate seeds), as well as the measured prose and contemporary-feeling dialogue, help to bring the old stories and characters closer to modern audiences. Collins adds further vim with assemblages of brawny heroes, grotesque monsters, and immortals wrapped in billowing clouds, glaring at one another or expressing large feelings, along with black-and-white spot art that’s reminiscent of ancient Greek pottery. The clean, vibrant, artwork shows figures with varied skin tones.

Vivid and more expansive than usual for the audience.