A Short Guide to Classical Mythology

Kirkwood's "A Short Guide to Classical Mythology" is exactly what it claims to be. Dictionary-like without being dry, the guide is an alphabetical list of people, places, and events in Greco-Roman mythology. Some entries are short, referring the reader to a longer one. The long entries are summaries of important epics or stories. While the format of the book makes it clearly a reference book instead of an exploration of mythology, this makes it a convenient and quick tool for students or teachers studying Classics, or simply for anyone unfamiliar with Classical Mythology. As seen by the numerous references to more modern authors and poets such as Voltaire and Dante, mythological references are everywhere in literature, and those who may not have been steeped in this tradition in class would find this book extremely helpful. Unlike other mythology books, such as Edith Hamilton's "Mythology" or D'Aulaires' "Book of Greek Myths," this book is truly a "short guide" that does not require the reader to look up a person in the index and then read all the way through a story to find out about them. Already alphabetical, Kirkwood's book gives a short description of the person, and anyone who wishes to read more can go to the story referenced. This book is a great guide for readers with any level of interest in mythology.