God Beneath the Sea by Leon Garfield
Greek mythology is introduced in a classic way that is intriguing to both adults and children. This timeless work of children’s literature by Leon Garfield and Edward Blishen tells some of the most well-known Greek mythology again. From their bloody beginnings through the creation of man, the epic history of the Greek gods is presented here. Hephaestus, a baby, is banished from Mount Olympus by his mother Hera at the start of the story. Thetis and Eurynome raise him in a grotto and impart to him numerous Greek creation tales. The story continues with myths of the Olympians and the time when gods and men coexisted, and it ends with Hephaestus ascending Mount Olympus after being cast down twice for disobeying Zeus.
God Beneath the Sea by Leon Garfield
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This synthesis of the Greek creation myths, which is woven around the story of Hephaestus, was created by two poets who are well-known for their own work in collaboration with one of the top illustrators in the UK. Being a lifelong classicist, I have never read anything that so brilliantly depicts the progression from the brute ignorance of prehistoric man to heartbreaking humanity against the backdrop of unstoppable fate and awe.
You must have read a simple (children’s) book of myths or have some other prior understanding of them in order to completely appreciate this without constantly consulting a classical dictionary. You can only get sucked into the whirlwind of this narrative after that. You will then read it once more. Because of how brilliantly it is written, each time you read it again, you discover new layers and nuances. Then you can read Homer and Sophocles with a correct comprehension of heroism and death as well as the agonizing moral quandaries that must arise from this code in a complex society.
The best introduction to the development of Western culture that I am aware of maybe inspires us to ask questions about contemporary society because the Greeks did.
A fantastic work in and of itself, bursting with poetry, passion, and strength.
It’s remarkable to me that I can’t tell that this is a children’s book, to be honest. It’s also not a straightforward recounting of events. It has poetry. Such beautiful, joyful language use. It’s very motivating. And that’s the main lesson I draw from it. There are several books that recount mythology, which I have read extensively, but what these books all have in common is that they revive myths and present them to readers in the same creative way that humans have for thousands of years. the elegance of the concepts.
