The impact of myths
As a children’s book enthusiast, I have always been passionate about myths and legends, local ones and global classics. Not only do they contribute significantly to our general culture, but play a crucial role in some of the very finest works of children’s literature. We are lucky to have many outstanding children’s versions of myths and legends both from our own Celtic and Medieval heritage, and from a wide range of other cultures too, particularly Greek, Norse and Egyptian. Thankfully, these are now being extended, with lovely examples from African, Carribean and Asian cultures, too. Many have also attracted contributions from brilliant illustrators, turning them into truly lovely volumes. The Mab : Eleven Epic Stories from the Mabinogi edited by Matt Brown and Eloise Williams and illustrated by Max Low is a recent example well worth looking out for. (Reviewed here in March ‘22) *
However, always on the lookout for something new and different, I have been delighted to find several examples of less well-known myths and legends published this year. The first was Amy Jeffs’ children’s version of her Storyland, which I reviewed here in September. Here is the second and I will write up the third in my next post.
Thermopylae with gods
Having said all that, I suppose The Wolf-Girl, The Greeks and The Gods is not actually genuine ‘myth and legend’. However, it reads and feels like it is and, perhaps most importantly, evokes the archetypal resonances associated with the best retellings of ancient story. What expert classical historian Tom Holland has done is take the actual story of the Greco-Persian War and retell it for young readers, incorporating the fictional involvement of the Ancient Greek Gods. In this way he has created a kind of equivalent to The Iliad, notwithstanding the important difference that the historical basis of the war in Homer’s classic is at best debatable, whereas the Persian Wars really happened. Of course, that means purists may well question Tom Holland’s distortion of history, but then all history is story, and the fictionalisation of actual events is commonplace in literature, so I think this new book is a totally legitimate literary creation. It is certainly a most engaging and exciting one.
As well as involving the gods in the action, Tom Holland focuses his tale on a strong female protagonist, Spartan Princess Gorgo, alongside Athenian Thermistocles. Clever and brave, she ensures this ‘new’ epic is more attuned to modern sensibilities, as opposed to those original Greek tales, which so many contemporary authors have felt the need to give a feminist rewrite. However, in ancient tradition, this new narrative remains a true epic, a tale of conflicts and rulers, treachery and triumph, of prophecies and transformations, and of mystical magical creatures whose lives intertwine with those of heroic (and sometimes tragic) mortals.
Treasurable
Whilst remaining accessible to confident, experienced young readers, Tom Holland’s language beautifully echos that of older texts. As well as providing much independent reading pleasure, it will read aloud wonderfully and add considerable enrichment to the language of those children encouraged to immerse themselves in it. **
Over and above all this, Jason Cockloft’s many striking illustrations brilliantly capture the spirit of this book. His images succeed magnificently in conveying the grandeur of its epic scale, whilst adding the thrill of an engaging contemporary style. Together with its large physical size, this makes the whole book a volume to wonder at - and to treasure.
It is a book for children who can think and dream on an epic scale. The author and illustrator have given them thrilling food for the imagination, a work that will hopefully grace shelves in many homes, schools and libraries for years to come.
Notes:
*Over recent years, there have bern many retellings by the wonderful Kevin-Crossley Holland. Two stunningly beautiful examples are Arthur, The Always King, illustrated by Chris Riddell and Norse Myths: Tales of Odin, Thor and Loki illustrated by Jeffrey Alan Love.
Another most attractive volume is African Tales: A Barefoot Collection by Gcina Mhlophe illustrated by Rachel Griffin.
I also remain inordinately fond of Gillian Clarke’s translation of One Moonlight Night by T. Lee Jones, illustrated by Jac Jones and of Rosemary Sutcliff’s retellings of The Iliad and The Odyssey, Black Ships Before Troy and The Wanderings of Odysseus, both stunningly illustrated by Alan Lee.
** To all the primary teachers out there, for enriching and extending children’s language I strongly recommend both Pie Corbett’s Talk for Writing and Bob Cox’s Opening Doors to Primary English. If you don’t know and use the approaches of both these wonderful educators, then you really should.