3/5 Stars (%58/100)
The book was originally published in 1880 and if you consider that fact, then it could get a higher mark. I've read most of the books out there that deal with Greek and Roman mythology, whether it is a textbook, like this one, or a fantasy/sci-fi book with mythological elements. Even though this book started as interesting, I found myself getting bored because it is presented as a history book. I love history but when it is explained in a simple but fun way. The same thing is true for mythology as well since it is highly related to history. This is why I really liked Gaiman's Norse Mythology and recently Stephen Fry's Mythos. Those books also contain a lot of information but both Gaiman and Fry are brilliant storytellers. Sadly, Berens is not, he is more like a history professor. The book contains good information about a lot of myths and legends. I especially liked the comparison between Greek and Roman when talking about the same myth or the deity. Talking about festivals like Saturnalia is also interesting. However, the biggest problem is the way all of these are presented: boring. Nonetheless, it is still a good source for Greek and Roman mythology.
