Heroes and Heroines of Greece and Rome

Greek and Roman figures from mythology continue to be a mainstay in education and general literacy. This reference volume is almost entirely extracts of Marshall Cavendish’s 2005 11-volume set (and online database), Gods, Goddesses, and Mythology. The nearly 100 entries in this volume features characters including partly human creatures, such as satyrs and demigods, alongside heroes—such as Homeric figures and the mythic founders of Rome—and mythological characters (e.g., Pandora and Pygmalion) who are not strictly heroes. Entries are arranged alphabetically and range in length from one to eight pages. The origins and context of each character begin the entry. Representative stories about the figure provide more detail. A significant portion of each entry discusses the character’s representation in art and is complemented by captioned, richly colored reproductions of 2-D and 3-D art throughout history. A brief bibliography and see also references conclude each signed entry. Each volume includes a pronunciation guide, a short list of major figures and partial family trees, further reading, and a comprehensive index. The writing is straightforward and accessible to high-schoolers. The two-column layout and generous line spacing facilitates reading the small font. The glossy pages make the images stand out well, and the binding is sturdy to support the heavy paper. For those libraries that do not need an extensive mythology set yet want to provide an artistic introduction to Greek and Roman mythological characters at an affordable price, these two volumes are a satisfactory solution. Grades 6-9. --Lesley Farmer