4 h 52 minAudiobook4 minSummaryRead it, hear it, the 15-minute summary, and print and large print at costPaperback · 6 × 9 in · printing soonHardcover · 6 × 9 in · printing soonAbout this book
What kind of world puts gods above the clouds and sends mortals out to face monsters?
In Old Greek Stories, James Baldwin brings the gods and heroes of Greece into plain, lively English. Zeus rules on Mount Olympus, while mortals face dangers that test their courage. Tales of gods, fire and the first humans invite you into a world where the forces of life take the shape of powerful beings.
The stories move from the gods to heroes, monsters and hard tasks. Each tale stands on its own, so you can enter without a guide to Greek myth. Together, they reveal how the Greeks explain fire, the seasons, courage and fate through stories. Baldwin keeps the telling clear and full of wonder.
What you’ll discover
- The gods on Olympus Meet Zeus and the gods whose powers touch the sea, harvest, hunt and home.
- Heroes put to the test Follow mortals as they face monsters, danger and tasks that call for courage.
- Fire and the first humans Explore tales that connect human beginnings with a world ruled by powerful beings.
- Questions shaped into stories Discover how Greek myths give story form to the seasons, courage and fate.
- A clear way into myth Enjoy lively tales that stand alone and lend themselves to reading aloud.
Who will love it
For parents, teachers and curious readers who want a clear first meeting with Greek myth, with gods, heroes and monsters in plain, lively English. It is also good for reading aloud.
What’s inside
The key ideas, in the 15-minute summary
- Old tales older than any book
- Gods, fire and the first humans
- Heroes, monsters and hard tasks
- How to read these myths today
Formats and delivery
- eBook
- On your phone, tablet, computer or Kindle, with the type as large as you like.
- Large-print eBook
- The same book in bigger, clearer type, from the first page.
- Audiobook
- 4 h 52 min, complete, read by Lucas Linden.
- 15-minute summary
- The key ideas in about 4 minutes, to read or to hear.
- Paperback
- 6 × 9 in. Printing soon: leave your email under Paperback or Hardcover above.
- Hardcover
- 6 × 9 in. Printing soon: leave your email under Paperback or Hardcover above.
- Large print paperback
- 8.5 × 11 in. Printing soon: leave your email under Paperback or Hardcover above.
- Large print hardcover
- 8.5 × 11 in. Printing soon: leave your email under Paperback or Hardcover above.
eBooks and audiobooks open right away. Download EPUB or PDF, or send the book to your Kindle. Every printed copy is made when you order it and shipped worldwide; shipping is shown at checkout.
How it works
- Start free. Nothing to pay today; the eBook of this book is yours to keep.
- Read, listen and print. 200,000+ classics as eBook, large-print eBook, audiobook and 15-minute summary, and any book printed at cost as a paperback, hardcover or large print, 5 accounts for the price of one.
- We remind you first. Free for 3 months, and we email you 7 days before your first payment. Then 0,14 USD a day in your first year on the yearly plan and 0,27 USD a day after, or 0,66 USD a day on the monthly plan. Cancel online in two clicks.
Bought on its own? Every eBook, audiobook and printed book you buy without the plan carries our 30-day money-back guarantee.
25 languages, side by side
Read and hear Contes de la Grèce antique in 25 languages and switch at any time. Or read two side by side, paragraph by paragraph: the way to learn a language with a book you love.
Contes de la Grèce antique
by James Baldwin · 1895
Meet the gods on Olympus and heroes who face monsters as Greek myths explore courage, pride and fate.
Medium level2–5 hours to read25 languages
Excellent
- Read or listen
- 25 languages, side by side
- Print and large print at cost
- 5 accounts for the price of one
Free for 3 months · starts right away, on any device
Read free3 months free · cancel anytimeFree for 3 months, then 0,14 USD a dayCancel anytimeHow it works
In short
Old Greek Stories is a book of ancient myths retold in plain, lively English. James Baldwin, an American teacher, editor and writer, published it in 1895 for young readers.
From the 15-minute summary · Key idea 1
Old tales older than any book
The Greek myths were told for centuries before they were written down. Poets such as Homer and Hesiod gave many of them lasting shape, and later Roman writers like Ovid retold them again. The stories were never one fixed text. Each teller changed details, so the same hero can have several family trees.
Baldwin works in that long tradition of retelling. He does not translate any single ancient poem. He gathers the tales and tells them in his own smooth prose, so a child can enjoy them without notes or a map of the family tree of the gods.
Free for 3 months · Cancel anytime
Free gifts
580 USD in free gifts when you start
Every book in every format and in 25 languages, 5 accounts for the price of one. Nothing to pay today.
- 200,000+ classic eBooksIn 25 languages, side by side
170 USDFREE - Every audiobookIn 25 languages, any device
120 USDFREE - 15-minute summariesRead or listen, in 25 languages
60 USDFREE - Print at cost, no markupPaperback, hardcover, large print
60 USDFREE - 5 accounts for the price of oneA shelf for everyone at home
170 USDFREE - A part in rebuilding the libraryNew languages and books for all
FREE
Questions about Contes de la Grèce antique
Can I read it free?
Yes. The first key idea of the 15-minute summary is free with no sign-up. Start free and the whole book is yours for 3 months, with the eBook to keep, plus 200,000+ more classics and any book printed at cost as a paperback, hardcover or large print. Nothing to pay today: we email you 7 days before your first payment, and you can cancel online in two clicks.
Can I buy the printed book?
Soon. The paperback, hardcover and large print editions are being prepared. Choose Paperback or Hardcover above, leave your email, and we tell you the day you can order it, printed at cost.
How many accounts do I get?
Five, for the price of one: you and 4 more people, each with their own login, shelf and their own place in every book.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. Cancel online in two clicks at any time and nothing more is charged. Nothing is charged in your first 3 months, and we email you 7 days before your first payment.
What is Old Greek Stories about?
It is a book of Greek myths retold in simple prose for young readers. It tells of the gods on Olympus, the first people, and heroes who face monsters and trials.
Who wrote Old Greek Stories and when?
It was written by James Baldwin, an American teacher and editor, and published in 1895. He is not the same person as the later novelist James Baldwin.
Is Old Greek Stories for children or adults?
It was written for young readers, but adults enjoy it as an easy first look at Greek myth. It also works well for reading aloud to a family or a class.
More by James Baldwin
All 4 booksMore like this
Our mission
The library burned once. We are building it back.
Every great book, in every language and every format, for every family. Every plan helps pay for new languages, new audiobooks and books for readers who have never had them. Join the movement.
Read our story- Every language25 languages today, side by side, and more every year
- No wastePrinted on demand: no warehouses, no unsold stock, no pulped copies
- For everyonePaperback, hardcover and large print at the cost of printing
