Stephen Fry's retelling of Greek myths in Mythos offers an engaging and fluent prose narration of selected stories, but the book's subtitle “The Greek Myths Retold” is misleading. Fry draws mostly from Hesiod's Theogony, Apuleius's The Golden Ass, and Ovid's Metamorphoses, omitting major cycles such as those of Troy, Odysseus, Heracles, Theseus, and Oedipus. The lack of a contents page or index may obscure this eccentric selection from casual buyers.
Fry's strength lies in his sensitivity to contemporary resonance, particularly in myths about gay gods and the transgender Hermaphroditus. His distinctive voice adds humour and intimacy, with dialogue that feels like posh North London banter. For instance, he imagines Hera “hurling china ornaments at feckless minions” and describes Ares as “unintelligent of course, monumentally dense”.
However, Fry's domesticated style struggles with grand elemental themes like cosmic chaos or heroic punishment. While his retellings of the Homeric Hymns to Demeter and Hermes are lively, the overall collection resembles a Shakespeare book omitting Hamlet and King Lear. Fans of Fry's drollery will enjoy the charm, but those seeking comprehensive myth cycles may be disappointed.
