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Mythology Books For Beginners
28
items I'm someone who is infatuated with the concept of mythology across the globe. So many different stories that all mix into settings of gods and fantasy, or monsters and phenomena—stories that indicate the culture behind a bygone era, passed from gener...
Sections
5
General Mythology Books
Reinterpretations of Mythology
The Epics You Know
Related
Academic
General Mythology Books
Contains the broad mythology of a specific country or culture! Includes popular stories into one book (or a set)
A perfect collection of Greek and Roman mythology, sprinkling in some from Norse mythology. Hamilton organizes different myths while maintaining some literary notes that assess the importance of mythology itself. This is for anyone beginning on mytho...
Mythology by Edith Hamilton, Paperback
A book containing Greek Mythology that is also depicted through drawings. Appropriate and viable for kids!
D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths
Norse Mythology: contains the tales of gods and heroes, as well as the Twilight of the Gods.
Tales of Norse Mythology (Barnes & Noble Collectible Editions)|Hardcover
A series of tales from Indian Mythology that you can choose from!
Tales from Indian Mythology: Collection of 10 Books
Arthurian Folklore: includes the famous tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the round table, including other stories.
Arthurian Legend, Celtic & British Folklore & Mythology, Books
Celtic Mythology: includes popular figures such as Morrigan, Cú Chulainn, etc...
Celtic, British, & Irish Folklore & Mythology Books
African Mythology: includes tales of gods, spirits, and other creatures—emerging the subtle culture behind each myth.
African Folklore & Mythology
Chinese Mythology: includes gods, spirits, demons, and over 200 stories!
Chinese Myths and Folk Tales (Barnes & Noble Collectible Editions)|Hardcover
Reinterpretations of Mythology
How people in the present interpret (or are inspired by) mythology through their own lense! Note: not always accurate to the main source.
A witty retelling of the Greek myths! It's not exactly a reliable or authoritative source for mythology, but it IS well-written and certainly worth the try if you want a modern perspective.
Mythos: The Greek Myths Reimagined by Stephen Fry, Hardcover
A popular retelling of Achilles and Patroclus... mainly through Patroclus's P.O.V. If you haven't read this book yet, then you should put it on your list sooner rather than never—just to note: there is romance between Patroclus and Achilles stated in...
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, Paperback
A novel that tells of Perseus's story through the perspective of three women: Danae, Medusa, and Andromeda. It's a reinterpretation that mostly spins Perseus not as a hero, and how he has affected the three characters.
The Shadow of Perseus: A Novel by Claire Heywood, Paperback
A retelling of the Illiad through the eyes of Briseis. A genuinely haunting narrative that parallels to the Song of Achilles: Briseis is a war prize of Achilles, and so the plot focuses on her experience as a woman playing that role in the Trojan War...
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker, Paperback
A story following the myth of Medusa and Perseus. It's quite short, being a narrative victimizing Medusa and showing the horrid actions of Perseus—at least, in this version of the story. I wouldn't say it's my favorite version, but it is notable how ...
Stone Blind: A Novel by Natalie Haynes, Paperback
Focused on the Trojan War through the perspectives of the women (that includes the goddesses themselves).
A Thousand Ships: A Novel by Natalie Haynes, Paperback
The Epics You Know
The classics from the past.
One of the most popular epics of Greek Mythology, my favorite from Homer.
The Odyssey (Barnes & Noble Collectible Editions)|Paperback
Also one of the most popular epics of Greek Mythology! Contains the story of the Trojan War.
The Iliad by Homer, Hardcover
A collection of mythological narratives (Greek and Roman). Focuses on the theme of transformation and incorporates that through history.
Metamorphoses by Ovid, Paperback
An epic containing the famous story of Oedipus, as well as later halves of the narrative.
Works of Sophocles: Includes The Theban plays (The Oedipus Cycle ...
An epic that tells the story of Rome founded from the remnants of Troy.
The Aeneid: (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition) by Virgil, Paperback
Hesiod's Theogeny AND Works and Days. Theogeny is focused on the origins of the Greek Gods, Works and Days focuses more on the morals and ethics of the simple life.
Theogony and Works and Days by Hesiod, Paperback
Related
Related to mythology in some way.
Not exactly mythology, but if you enjoy Japanese mythology, you should definitely check out this book. It has different tales you've yet to discover—reading this with ambient music during the evening was a peaceful memory of mine.
Tales of Japan: Stories of Monsters & Magic
A tale of the twelve Olympian Gods... in a modern setting—they live in a rather sad flat within London. More humorous than serious.
Gods Behaving Badly: A Novel by Marie Phillips, Paperback
A book that frames Greek Mythology in a rather unique way: every seven years, a set of deities are turned to mortality and hunted by the descendants and heroes of gods. An interesting plot-line with a good flow following the story.
Lore by Alexandra Bracken, Paperback
No surprise here—of course Percy Jackson would be on this list. It's the most well-known series inspired by Greek Mythology.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians Book Series
A novel based off of Korean Mythology. The main character is a girl with no magic adopted into a magical family with six clans blessed by the six goddesses, feeling out of place, and soon trying to find a way to achieve the same magic her family has....
The Last Fallen Star (Gifted Clans Series #1) by Graci Kim, Paperback
Academic
Studies, research, and inspections concerning mythology.
A book that dives deep into how mythology affects culture, and what significance they hold to culture. Contains brief summaries and in-depth interviews, a rare gem among research about mythology.
Myth and Meaning: Cracking the Code of Culture
A book dealing with the study of mythology and its patterns, in particular, how the "hero's journey" has progressed through myths and how they relate to modern text.
The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell, Hardcover
A book focusing on modern mythologies, analyzing how such mythologies are structured in societies around the world.
Myth and Reality: Eliade, Mircea - Books