Hugh Lupton

I confess that I tried to read the original Mabinogion a few years ago and found it boring and unmagical. However, I have heard Hugh Lupton on stage, and he is a master storyteller. The Assembly of the Severed Head is a skillful retelling of the four branches of the Welsh epic cycle, set in the early thirteenth century. The author has a real feel for the period, telling his tale simply but effectively, and the characters in both the narrative (some real, others fictional) and the Mabinogion itself came to life. Enthusiastically recommended, and I look forward to reading more books by Hugh Lupton.… (mehr)

Orpheus and Eurydice love each other deeply, but a tragic accident kills Eurydice the day after their wedding. Orpheus must then contend with the fickle gods as he tries to find his way back to his true love.

While I've certainly heard mention of Orpheus in various works of literature, it never really occurred to me to look up his story. So when I stumbled upon this children's version of the Greek myth, I decided I should check it out. Being as I don't know the original tale, I cannot say whether this is a faithful adaptation. I can say it's a concise and interesting read with clear language easy enough for small children to follow. There's even a handy pronunciation guide at the beginning of the book for children unfamiliar with Greek mythology.

The book also contains a family tree of Greek deities, a chart describing the key players among these ancient gods and goddesses, and a map of ancient Greece. I found the family tree to be a bit confusing myself, and I at least know a little bit of who belongs where. The chart was informative, although many of the deities are not actually featured in this book, so this is certainly more supplemental than necessary. The same could be said for the map, as the book makes no mention of specific places in Greece (ancient or otherwise).

Orpheus and Eurydice also includes some illustrations here and there. These are flat in terms of looking one-dimensional, but they are by no means dull. The bright color palette and vivid facial expressions make them quite lively indeed.

There is death (and some of it pretty intense) in this story, so it may not be the book for all children. Caregivers should pay mind to whether their child(ren) are sensitive to that or not before sharing this book with them. Otherwise, I think it's a fine addition for the reading list of children who enjoy things that are a bit fantastical, and it will help expand their knowledge of the classics as well.… (mehr)