Review: 'Greek Mythology: The Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes Handbook' by Liv Albert

 I adore Greek mythology. I think I adored it before I had even heard of Harry Potter or The Lord of the Rings. It has also had a major influence on the direction my academic interest and therefore my life has taken. So I try to get my hands on anything Greek mythology related, naturally, whether it's a WebToon like Lore Olympus or stunning handbooks like Albert's Greek Mythology. Thanks to Adams Media and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Pub. Date: 3/30/2021
Publisher: Adams Media

Finally sort out who’s who in Greek mythology—from gods, goddesses, heroes, monsters, and everyone in between!

Greek mythology continues to appear in popular movies and books today but have you ever wondered about where these characters started out? Discover the origins of your favorite characters from Greek mythology with this collection of profiles to tell you who’s who in classical lore!

In Greek Mythology, you will discover the backstories of the heroes, villains, gods, and goddesses that enjoy popularity in today’s shows and films. With comprehensive entries that outline each character’s name, roles, related symbols, and foundational myths, you can get to know the roots of these personas and better understand the stories they inspire today. With this character-focused, handy reference, you will never be confused about Ancient Greece!

One of the hardest things with Greek mythology is just the hierarchy and genealogy and chronology of it all. I remember once giving a presentation on this in primary school (I know, ok, I was insufferable!) and the whole blackboard was just covered in chalky scribbles and lines and names. So a who's who is exactly what is needed for newcomers and for the more experienced readers who have lost track of why Cadmus is as important as he is. Greek mythology is complex and of course it is, it is a whole belief system mixed in with folklore, history, and more. It would be like trying to wrap your mind around all of Christianity, with its apocrypha and various Church Fathers and desert saints, in one go! Exactly because it is complex I love revisiting it and seeing different takes on the mythology. Each age reinvents it for itself, whether we're trying to make Zeus into a good guy (I see you Wrath of the Titans, it's not gonna work) or change the dynamics between Hades and Persephone. So let's get into Liv Albert's Handbook.

Greek Mythology is a great starting point for anyone intimidated by the sheer scope of Greek mythology. The lay-out is straightforward, going from one group of gods and goddesses to the next in order of importance and relevance. First are our primordial beings, Gaia remaining a perpetual favourite. Next are the Titans and then the Olympians, before we go to "lesser" divinities and then our heroes. This way of organizing the book means that by the time you get to the heroes you know who the gods are that are popping up left right and center. Each god or goddesses will also have their most important story or a fun fact accompanying their basic info, which gives the reader a good introduction to them without overloading them with information. This Handbook will get you inspired and prepared to pick up difficult editions of the myths, or perhaps to re-watch Hercules, or both! 

Liv Albert does a great job at adjusting the occasionally complex and dense language and background of these myths and make them accessible. Stephen Fry is doing a similar job with his Mythos and Heroes books, bringing Greek mythology to an audience that might otherwise be intimidated or turned off by it. Her introduction at the beginning also does its best to set the reader up for success, especially when it comes to preparing them for the high potential of murder, incest, kidnapping and rape which you do find in these myths. We're solidly pre-Christian here and these aren't moral, ethical divinities that enforce a code of good behaviour. So some stories are rough, others are fun, all of them are interesting in their own right. Albert does a great job at letting each story shine while giving the reader a head's up for when it gets rocky. Something that also elevates this Handbook is the stunning art. It is simply beautiful and I couldn't help but gaze at it while contemplating the myths. I loved the way she used colour, contrasts between different divinities, and story elements to create the drawings. Definitely a reason to come back to it!

I give this book...

5 Universes!

Greek Mythology by Liv Albert is a beautifully illustrated and well-written introduction to the wide world of Greek mythology. With her categorical and careful approach she makes sure the reader never gets overwhelmed but does get blown away!