5 h 23 minAudiobook12 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 makes a hero: the strength to face a monster, or the courage to be kind?
In The Heroes, Charles Kingsley brings three Greek legends close to young readers: Perseus, Jason and the Argonauts, and Theseus. Perseus makes a rash promise to bring back Medusa’s head, though her gaze turns men to stone. Jason gathers his crew aboard the Argo and sails toward Colchis, where a king refuses to surrender the golden fleece.
Theseus grows up far from his father, then sets out for Athens to claim his place. Around these adventures, Kingsley asks what strength is for and how a brave person should act. His warm storytelling speaks directly to children, making room for wonder and danger while holding courage, honesty and kindness at the heart of each hero’s journey.
What you’ll discover
- A promise to face Follow Perseus toward Medusa, with his rash vow and his mother’s safety at stake.
- A ship bound for adventure Join Jason and the Argonauts on a voyage full of danger and temptation.
- A place to claim Travel with Theseus from his quiet childhood home toward his father in Athens.
- Lessons from a centaur Meet Chiron, who teaches young heroes music, healing and the right use of strength.
- More than brave deeds Discover tales that ask their heroes to be honest, loyal and merciful as well as bold.
Who will love it
For parents reading aloud, young readers who love sea voyages and monsters, and anyone who enjoys Greek myths in a clear story form, with courage, honesty and kindness at their heart.
What’s inside
The key ideas, in the 15-minute summary
- Chiron Teaches the Heroes of Greece
- Perseus Is Cast Out to Sea
- Perseus Wins the Gorgon's Head
- The Argo Gathers Its Crew
- Perils on the Road to Colchis
- Medea, the Fleece and the Flight
- Theseus Grows Up and Sets Out
- Theseus in Athens and Crete
- What the Heroes Teach and How
Who’s who
- PerseusA young man raised on Seriphos who vows to bring back the Gorgon's head and to protect his mother.
- DanaePerseus's mother, shut away by her father and cast to sea with her baby, who wants only her son's safety.
- JasonThe rightful heir of Iolcos, trained by Chiron, who leads the Argonauts to Colchis to win the golden fleece.
- MedeaThe Colchian princess skilled in magic, who helps Jason because she loves him and wants to leave her father's land.
- TheseusA young man from Troezen who lifts the rock, takes his father's tokens and travels to Athens to claim his place.
- ChironThe wise centaur of Mount Pelion who teaches young heroes music, healing and the right use of strength.
- AriadneThe daughter of King Minos of Crete, who is moved by Theseus's courage and helps him in the Labyrinth.
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- Audiobook
- 5 h 23 min, complete, read by Lucas Linden.
- 15-minute summary
- The key ideas in about 12 minutes, to read or to hear.
- Paperback
- 6 × 9 in. Printing soon: leave your email under Paperback or Hardcover above.
- Hardcover
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- Large print paperback
- 8.5 × 11 in. Printing soon: leave your email under Paperback or Hardcover above.
- Large print hardcover
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The Heroes
by Charles Kingsley · 1856
Perseus sets out to bring back the Gorgon's head and save his mother.
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From the 15-minute summary · Key idea 1
Chiron Teaches the Heroes of Greece
Kingsley opens with a short introduction in which he speaks to his children. He tells them that the Greeks were a people who loved beauty, courage and clever speech. They believed that gods and heroes once walked the land. He says these stories were the first lessons of a people who grew into great thinkers and soldiers.
He also explains how the stories came down. Poets sang them long ago, and he wants to tell them again in plain words. He admits that the old tales sometimes show the gods behaving badly. So he chooses to keep what is noble and to leave out what would harm a child.
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What is The Heroes by Charles Kingsley about?
It retells three Greek myths for children: Perseus and the Gorgon Medusa, Jason and the Argonauts seeking the golden fleece, and Theseus and the Minotaur. Kingsley tells them in a warm voice that stresses courage, loyalty and kindness.
Who wrote The Heroes and when was it published?
Charles Kingsley, an English clergyman and writer, wrote it for his own children. It was first published in 1856 under a longer title that called the stories Greek fairy tales.
Is The Heroes a true story?
No. The tales come from ancient Greek myth, passed on by poets and storytellers over many centuries. Kingsley retold them in Victorian England, shaping them to suit young readers and adding his own moral outlook.
The author
Charles Kingsley
1819–1875 · English novelist and clergyman
Charles Kingsley (1819–1875) was a British clergyman, historian and novelist. He was born in Devon, England, and served as rector of Eversley in Hampshire from 1844 until his death. He wrote The Heroes, published in 1856, and The Water-Babies, published in 1863. He also taught history at Cambridge University.
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