Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The myth of atlas and heracles from the worlds largest community of readers. In weight jeanette winterson retells the myths of atlas and heracles, and in her introduction explains. Less than 150 pages, weight is wintersons reimagining of the myth of atlas and heracles sometimes known as hercules. The myth of atlas and heracles by jeanette winterson. The myth of atlas and heracles jeanette winterson on. Of course i wrote it directly out of my own situation. I wanted to explore loneliness, isolation, responsibility, burden, and freedom, too, because my version has a very particular end not found elsewhere.
A catechism for the use of mothers and childrens nurses by l. Almost masturbatory in some areas, and i dont just mean the extended bits where heracles strums his own trumpet you can actually imagine winterson writing this and thinking to herself oh yeah, thats for the academics, thats the stuff. Join in on my discussionrant of jeanette wintersons weight. Weight moves far away from the simple story of atlass punishment and his temporary relief when heracles takes the world off his shoulders. The myth of atlas and heracles by jeanette winterson at indigo. Dec 08, 2005 weight is the story of atlas and heracles as retold by jeanette winterson. I wanted to explore loneliness, isolation, responsibility, burden, and freedom too, because my version has a very particular end not found elsewhere. Aug 15, 2006 weight by jeanette winterson, part of the canongate myths collection along with atwoods penelopiad, is a deconstructed retelling of the myth of atlas. Visionary and inventive, weight turns the familiar on its head to show us ourselves in a new light. Part of the ongoing myths series from random house which i adore winterson takes on the myth of atlas and heracles. Jeanette winterson creates an uncategorisable, meditative and moving book. Winterson has an interesting reputation as a writer of being completely unpredictable and incredibly insightful, which is a description that perfectly sums up weight weight retells the story of atlas, who carried the world on his shoulders and heracles, the halfgod hero, from greek.
Nov 05, 2010 the story of atlas and heraclesatlas knows how it feels to carry the weight of the world. I mentioned in another post that i think winterson could definitely be a kind of postmodern edith hamilton. The myth of atlas and heracles myths, the jeanette. Jeanette wintersons novella weight is both a retelling of greek myths involving atlas and heracles and a meditation on the real and metaphoric burdens human beings must bear throughout their lives. The story of atlas and heraclesatlas knows how it feels to carry the weight of the world. The myth of atlas and heracles used books i love books books to read my books jeanette winterson fantasy faction buch design book writer book jacket.
Visionary and inventive, believable and intimate, weight turns the familiar on its head to show us ourselves in a new light. We often feel like we have the weight of the world on our shoulders. The first edition of the novel was published in 2005, and was written by jeanette winterson. The myth of atlas and heracles i return to problems i cant solve, not because i am an idiot, but because the real problems cant be.
With her typical wit and verve, jeanette winterson brings atlas into the twentyfirst century. Weight by jeanette winterson, part of the canongate myths collection along with atwoods penelopiad, is a deconstructed retelling of the myth of atlas. Weight retells the story of atlas, who carried the world on his shoulders and heracles, the halfgod hero, from greek. Sep 18, 2017 join in on my discussionrant of jeanette wintersons weight.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The myth of atlas and heracles myths, the, by jeanette winterson. Jeanette wintersons first novel, oranges are not the only fruit, won the whitbread prize for best novel. The myth of atlas and heracles the myths kindle edition by winterson, jeanette. Jeanette wintersons retelling of the myth of atlas and heracles asks difficult and eternal questions about the nature of choice and coercion. With wit and verve, the prizewinning author of sexing the cherry and oranges are not the only fruit brings the mythical figure of atlas into the space age and sets. The titan atlas, whose punishment it is to carry the world, literally, on his shoulders, is enlisted by the super. Jeanette wintersons novella weight is both a retelling of greek myths involving atlas and herakles and a meditation on the real and metaphoric burdens human beings must bear throughout their lives. Your reaction to the book will likely be heavily influenced by how you. Jeanette winterson author biography born in manchester, uk in 1959 and adopted into a firmly religious family, jeanette winterson studied at oxford university. The main characters of this fiction, fantasy story are. Listen to weight audiobook by jeanette winterson, dick hill.
Susie breck in ancient greek mythology atlas, a member of the original race of gods called titans, leads a rebellion against the new deities, the olympians. Wintersons story, weight, is a cover version of the myth of atlas and heracles. Winterson has an interesting reputation as a writer of being completely unpredictable and incredibly insightful, which is a description that perfectly sums up weight. Weight is the story of atlas and heracles as retold by jeanette winterson. Jeanette winterson s first novel, oranges are not the only fruit, won the whitbread prize for best novel. Besides a creative reimagining of the classic greek myth winterson weaves in aspects of autobiography, history, sociology, and science. The myth of atlas and heracles myths unabridged by jeanette winterson, dick hill, susie breck isbn. Jeanette winterson s novella weight is both a retelling of greek myths involving atlas and heracles and a meditation on the real and metaphoric burdens human beings must bear throughout their lives. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel that the.
The myth of atlas and heracles book by jeanette winterson. When heracles is tasked with stealing these apples he seeks out atlas, offering to shoulder the world. Read weight by jeanette winterson for free with a 30 day free trial. This firstperson voice in her texts, the authorial intrusion, and the autobiographical details are familiar enough from her previous work. Weight retells the story of atlas, who carried the world on his shoulders and heracles. In weight visionary and inventive, yet completely believable and relevant to the questions we ask ourselves every day wintersons skill in turning the familiar on its head to show us a. Read weight online by jeanette winterson books free 30day. Knowing that heracles is the only person with the strength to take his burden, and enticed by the prospect of even a shortlived freedom, atlas agrees and an uneasy partnership is born. Oct 28, 2005 winterson s story, weight, is a cover version of the myth of atlas and heracles. In her retelling of the story of a god tricked into holding the world on his shoulders and his brief reprieve, she sets difficult questions about the nature of choice and coercion, and how we choose our own destiny and at the same time can liberate ourselves from our. The myth of atlas and heracles the myths 9781841957180.
In greek mythology, atlas, a member of the original race of gods called titans, is punished for leading a rebellion against the new deities, the olympians. Heracles hercules in greek, being the only one in greek mythology that can also carry the weight of the world, approaches atlas for help in completing a task in exchange for some timeoff for atlas. The myth of atlas and heracles myths main by winterson, jeanette isbn. With wit and verve, jeanette wintersons weight brings atlas into the space age and sets him free at last.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading weight. Jeanette winterson s novella weight is both a retelling of greek myths involving atlas and herakles and a meditation on the real and metaphoric burdens human beings must bear throughout their lives. Weight moves far away from the simple story of atlas s punishment and his temporary relief when heracles takes the world off his shoulders. Heracles makes a deal with atlas that will relieve atlas of his burden if he helps heracles collect the golden apples of hesperides. Atlas, guardian of the garden of hesperides and its golden apples of life, is forced to bear the weight of the heavens for eternity. The story of atlas and heracles atlas knows how it feels to carry the weight of the world. The book begins in a very heavy manner with the weight of the worldthe physical world of sedimentary rock and fossilised remains, with layer after layer of strata that is twisted and folded to form this earth. When i was asked to choose a myth to write about, i realized i had chosen.
Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Her first novel, oranges are not the only fruit, was published in 1985 to tremendous acclaim, and she later adapted it for television. Jeanette winterson asks difficult questions about the nature of choice and coercion in her dazzling retelling of the myth of atlas and heracles. The book is really about the way we use narrative to construct ourselves and our identities.
But then he receives an unexpected visit from heracles, the one man strong enough to share the burden. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Weight moves far away from the simple story of atlass punishment and his temporary relief when hercules takes the world off his shoulders. Atlas, punished for fighting against the olympian gods, must hold up the kosmos for eternity. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Despite its short length, 150 pages, it is not an easy book to get a handle on. Since then, she has published seven other novels, including lighthousekeeping, the passion, written on the body, and the powerbook, a collection of short stories, the world and other places, a books of essays, art objects, and most recently a childrens picture book, the king of capri. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. That sentence alone fails to capture the sweep of this slim little volume, or the depth to it. Atlas has been punished by zeus, and has to carry the weight of the world upon his back. The myth of atlas and heracles i return to problems i cant solve, not because i am an idiot, but because the real problems cant be solved. In weight visionary and inventive, yet completely believable and relevant to the questions we ask ourselves every day wintersons skill in turning the familiar on its head to show us a different truth is put to stunning effect.