Faced with a shelf of myth titles, choose the best books about Greek mythology by job: Hamilton’s Mythology for the stories, Miller’s Circe or Fry’s Mythos for retellings, and a reference guide for checking details.
The picks below are grouped by that job, with short reading paths at the end. If you are building a wider list, our best books to read collection has picks beyond myth.
Classics, retellings and reference are different tools
The most common mistake is expecting one book to do everything. A classic collection gathers the stories, a retelling reshapes them around a voice or a character, and a reference guide helps you check what ancient sources and artworks actually show. Judge each by its own job, not by a single league table.
| Kind | Book | Goodreads average (ratings) | Planning use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic collection | Mythology by Edith Hamilton | 4.04 (61,653) | A long-standing general collection of the myths; its publisher frames it as covering Greek, Roman and Norse stories |
| Ancient epic | The Odyssey by Homer | 3.86 (1,297,522) | The primary epic itself; the translation you pick shapes the experience |
| Retelling, one character | Circe by Madeline Miller | 4.22 (1,498,218) | A novel that takes a different view of a familiar figure |
| Retelling, one character | The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller | 4.30 (2,207,340) | The highest average of the rated picks here; suits readers who want a novel |
| Retelling, broad survey | Mythos by Stephen Fry | 4.25 (181,994) | A conversational run through many myths in one volume |
Ratings are reader averages from Goodreads’ best Greek mythology books list, and Hamilton’s scope comes from the publisher’s catalog page.
Treat the averages as a rough signal of reader satisfaction, not a ranking. They describe very different kinds of book, so a lower score for an ancient epic does not make it a weaker choice. Four misunderstandings are worth clearing up before you buy.
- “Mythology means Greek only.” Hamilton’s publisher describes the book as a classic on Greek, Roman and Norse mythology, so it is a broad collection rather than a Greek-only text.
- “A retelling is the myth itself.” A retelling is an interpretation. Circe, for example, offers what one reviewer calls a completely different take on a character many readers think they know.
- “Reference books are for everyone.” Some are written for specialists. One advanced guide is described as useful only to the most devoted myth readers.
- “A translation is a retelling.” A translation of The Odyssey renders the ancient poem. The retellings below rework the stories.
Classics: Hamilton, Graves and the Odyssey
Mythology by Edith Hamilton
Hamilton’s Mythology has sold millions of copies since its original publication in 1942, according to its publisher. Hamilton herself lived from 1868 to 1963 and was headmistress of the Bryn Mawr School, per the same Hachette listing. A retailer listing gives it 4.6 out of 5 stars from 5,666 ratings, a sign of steady general-reader approval rather than scholarly endorsement.
Format matters more than usual here. The 75th anniversary illustrated edition, from Black Dog & Leventhal, went on sale on Sep 26, 2017 and runs 384 pages. It carries specially commissioned full-color plates and gold-bordered pages, and the deluxe hardcover lists at $32.00 USD. Choose it as a gift or a shelf copy. If you only want the text to read, a plainer edition serves the same purpose.
Donna Zuckerberg’s list of favorite Greek myth books names Hamilton and Graves together as the classics, with Stephen Fry as the favorite of many casual readers.
The Odyssey
The Odyssey is the epic behind many later retellings, and your choice of translation shapes how readable it is. Emily Wilson’s version is described as the first English translation by a woman. It is written in iambic pentameter verse in a contemporary idiom, with maps, a pronunciation glossary and notes, according to a reading list built around the epic. Those extras make it practical for first-time readers who want help with names and places.
Retellings: Miller, Fry and graphic formats
Retellings suit readers who want emotional pull or a lively voice more than neutral summary. They split into two styles: a novel that stays with one character, and a survey that moves through many myths.
Madeline Miller: Circe and The Song of Achilles
Both Miller novels sit at the top of the rating table above, and both are written for adults who enjoy character-driven fiction. Circe is the better entry if you want a reworking of a figure from the Odyssey, since it reinterprets her mythological portrayal. Read The Song of Achilles when you want the most widely rated novel on the list.
Stephen Fry and Lore Olympus
Fry’s Mythos subtitle, The Greek Myths Retold, signals a different approach: many myths in one volume, in a chatty voice that many casual readers favor. It is also the first book in Fry’s Great Mythology series, so readers who enjoy it have somewhere to go next.
If you prefer images to prose, the Lore Olympus boxed set collects the first three hardcover volumes of the Eisner Award-winning webcomic. It reinterprets myth in graphic form, so treat it as a modern take rather than a way to learn the traditional versions.
Reference and deeper reading
Reference books answer a different question: not “what happens?” but “what do the sources and artworks show?” They reward selective use more than cover-to-cover reading.
- Gantz’s reference guide. It draws on both literary and artistic sources, including pottery evidence. Zuckerberg’s newsletter says you would have to be among the most devoted myth readers to need it, so buy it for research, not casual reading.
- Anthology of Classical Myth. About 400 pages of excerpts from a range of authors, arranged alphabetically by author rather than by story. Dip in by author.
- Morales’s Very Short Introduction. Small in size but far-ranging, covering myth in politics, culture and art over the past hundred years. A good entry point if you are curious about how myth is used today.
- Calasso’s experimental book. Its form is described as experimental, literary and dense, and it divides some students. Pick it if you enjoy challenging prose, and skip it as a first myth book.
All four descriptions come from Zuckerberg’s favorite-books list, which is a personal selection and not a ranked survey.
Reading paths that combine the three kinds
Pick the path that matches why you are reading, then add a second book from another kind only when you want a different angle.
- Story first. Begin with Hamilton’s Mythology for the core stories, move to Fry’s Mythos for a livelier second pass, and finish with Wilson’s Odyssey for the epic itself.
- Character first. Read Circe, then The Song of Achilles. Add the Lore Olympus boxed set if you enjoy graphic storytelling.
- Reference first. Start with Morales’s Very Short Introduction for context, use the Anthology of Classical Myth to sample ancient and later authors, and reach for Gantz only when you need source detail.
Readers who enjoy the dramatic mood of myth may want to look at Classic Gothic Literature: A Compact Guide To Darkness, Desire, And Decay (2026), which approaches dark themes through a different tradition. If you are curious about how restrictions affect what reaches library shelves, see Banned Books In Utah: What’s Restricted, Why It Matters, And How To Find Them In 2026.
Frequently asked questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Which retelling should I start with? | Choose Stephen Fry’s Mythos if you want many myths in a conversational voice; it is described as a favorite of many readers (Zuckerberg’s list). Choose Madeline Miller’s Circe if you would rather follow one character in a novel. |
| What is the best reference book? | For source-based detail, Gantz’s guide stands out because it includes both literary and artistic evidence, though it suits dedicated readers. For a shorter, lighter way in, Morales’s Very Short Introduction is the gentler option. |
| Why do listings give different publication dates for Hamilton’s Mythology? | Hamilton’s publisher states that Mythology was originally published in 1942 (Hachette), while a retailer listing shows January 1, 1943. Use the publisher’s date when citing the original. |
