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Summary
Summary
Tales about proud gods and goddesses, fabulous creatures, ferocious beasts, and brave heroes from the world of Greek mythology have captured the imaginations of readers, young and old, for centuries. Now see them brought to life like never before, as acclaimed author and artist Lynn Curlee turns his brush to a subject that is unlike any other to create a work of boundless creativity and beauty.
From the fierce Chimera, who is part lion, goat, and serpent; to the magnificent Phoenix that rises from its own ashes; to the story of Jason and the Golden Fleece; to the legend of Perseus and the Gorgon Medusa; to the noble winged horse, Pegasus; to Cerberus, the three-headed watchdog of Hades, Mr. Curlee explores the characters of the myths and legends that have been told and retold for thousands of years.
brings to life a world where lowly mortals can either be favored or destroyed by powerful gods and goddesse and where kings and queens must bow down before Zeus and his brethren. It is a place where nymphs and centaurs roam to the music of Pan's flute and the hungry Cyclops and Minotaur lurk in the shadows -- a magical place of love, danger, and imagination.
Reviews (2)
Horn Book Review
(Intermediate) "Tales of Strange Beings, Fabulous Creatures, Fearsome Beasts, & Hideous Monsters from Ancient Greek Mythology," states the title page, declaring the book's nature more accurately than does the medieval "Bestiary." Curiously, a preponderance of these sixteen fabulous beasts are half human (or, like Pan, minor deities). Most are monstrous in behavior as well as body; only the purely animal Pegasus and Phoenix possess some sort of nobility. Confining each within a broad, sober border, Curlee depicts all as classically statuesque -- the Golden Fleece is draped symmetrically over its formally posed serpent guardian; smooth as marble, Pegasus rises to the Muses' cloud-encircled temple. Even such horrors as Cyclops, the blood of his human victims streaming down his gigantic arms, seem congealed in the moment. Straightforward and clean, the accompanying text outlines without dramatization what these mythical beings were and their role in Greek lore. Although unfortunately lacking any sources, the book is an eye-catching introduction to the world of ancient myth. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
This is not so much a "bestiary" as a diverse gallery of figures from Greek mythology that are particularly suited to Curlee's distinctive, neoclassical style of illustration. He chooses 16 subjects, ranging from gryphons and centaurs to Pan, Argus (depicted weirdly as a man with eyes all over his body), Poseidon's fish-tailed son Triton and Talus, the bronze giant that guarded Crete. Aside from several notable exceptions like the gaping, gory head of Medusa, which stares stonily up from the page and will likely give many viewers the willies, all are posed in heroic profile and strongly, solidly modeled. The text facing each full-page portrait supplies physical descriptions, as well as abbreviated but clear versions of relevant myths. Curlee wraps the contents in a context-setting Prologue and Epilogue, so the entire volume not only provides an engrossing visual experience, but serves up a coherent early introduction to the range and purposes of these ancient tales. (Folklore. 8-10) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
