Translating and Reimagining Ancient TalesLike this list

8 items

• Gilgamesh

  a New English Version

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  The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the oldest surviving pieces of literature in the world, written in Mesopotamia on clay tablets between 2100 and 1200 BC. The incomplete poem is made accessible to contemporary readers in Stephen Mitchell’s…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Mythos

  Fry, Stephen

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  Stephen Fry brings a selection of Ancient Greek myths to life in the first book of his trilogy (see also books two and three – Heroes and Troy). Fans of Fry will appreciate his witty and intelligent approach to the subject matter. [Also available as…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Song of Achilles

  A Novel

  Miller, Madeline

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  Madeline Miller takes Homer’s The Iliad as inspiration for a wonderful retelling of the story of Achilles and the Trojan War. See also Miller’s immensely popular follow up novel, Circe, which again borrows from Greek mythology. [The Song of Achilles…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Lavinia

  Le Guin, Ursula K., 1929-2018

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  So many authors have found inspiration in the Ancient Greek myths, I’ve included one more example here. Ursula K. LeGuin takes a minor character from Virgil’s Aeneid and makes her the focal point in Lavinia. This Locus Award-winning novel was…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Kaikeyi

  A Novel

  Patel, Vaishnavi

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  Vaishnavi Patel reimagines the character of Queen Kaikeyi from the Hindu epic, the Ramayana in this New York Times bestselling debut, retelling Kaikeyi’s story in an empowering and captivating way. [Also available as a book and eAudiobook]

• Beowulf

  a New Translation

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  Maria Dahvana Headley’s Hugo Award winning translation of Beowulf brings a contemporary parlance and a feminist perspective to the epic. Be prepared for a few bros and the occasional hashtag in this modern interpretation of the Old English…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Norse Mythology

  Gaiman, Neil

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  Odin, Thor and Loki all feature in Neil Gaiman’s retelling of a selection of stories from Norse mythology. The book begins with the creation of the nine worlds and ends, of course, with Ragnarok. [Also available as a book, ebook, and audiobook CD]

• Monkey King, Journey to the West

  Wu, Cheng'en, approximately 1500-approximately 1582

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  Journey to the West is one of the great classics of Chinese literature, dating back to the sixteenth century. Julia Lovell’s recent translation is a lively and humorous account of the exploits of Sun Wukong (a mischievous monkey with supernatural…Read moreRead more of this annotation