On the Verge of Lunacy

Padraic Colum not only provides a retelling of the adventures of Jason and the Argonauts but also of some of the Greek heroes and gods that most readers would recognize. The book is divided into the following three major parts: Part 1. The Voyage to Colchis Part 2. The Return to Greece Part 3. The Heroes of the Quest Colum is not only a narrator of the events in the heroes' quest to retrieve the fleece and return home safely, but he also made an attempt at characterization. Jason is no longer just a famous hero and the readers voyeurs, but instead are involved in the emotional struggles of the characters. First time readers of this tale will not find the book difficult to understand. Several stories told or sung by Orpheus are also very helpful for readers who are new to Greek mythology. These stories include the beginning of things and Titanomachy, Demeter and Persephone, Atalanta's Race, The Golden Maid, Prometheus, and Perseus. The final part of the book features...

Padraic Colum retells the story of the struggle of the gods and goddesses to preserve beauty, freedom and wisdom against those who would wish to destroy everything. The book begins with the aftermath of the Ragnarok where the surviving gods picked up a tablet recording the events of the past. Colum then proceeds to narrate the exploits of Odin, Thor, Loki and the other Norse gods and goddesses. The creation myth was retold through Heimdall's point of view in the middle of the book. The Volsung saga was also included in the last section just before the Twilight of the Gods. Colum did a great job of trying to link together the events. The transition from one story to the next to create a one, flowing narrative is flawless, making it look like all the events are interconnected. It reads more like a novel than a compilation of stories. This can be a great introduction to Norse mythology. I recommend this to anyone who's not yet familiar with the myths. I enjoyed this boo...