By Jove!, Brush Up Your Mythology

Do you know why we call a book of maps an "atlas"? Or why you don't ever want to be "tantalized" again? And would you still avoid that sticky almond candy "ambrosia" if you knew it could make you immortal? You'll cry "By Jove!" when you discover the answers to these and other questions in this follow-up volume to Michael Macrone's Brush Up Your Shakespeare! and It's Greek to Me! Both an entertaining handbook to classical mythology and a revealing catalogue of divinely inspired word origins, By Jove! recounts great stories in a fresh, new way, offering concise synopses while exploring the odd twists these tales have taken during the ages. As you make your way through the magical places of myth, you'll meet all the major gods and goddesses, heroes and heroines, and beasts and monsters who have lent their names to our language, and their stories to our tradition. By Jove! will pique your imagination and supply you with a store of fascinating details to impress friends and nemeses alike - including the tale of the original "nemesis". You'll discover which goddess lent her name to money, why you don't want to lie on a "Procrustean bed", and why the mythical Adonis was no muscle-bound he-man. And if someone pops you a "trivia" question on classical mythology, you will be sure to find the answer in this illuminating "cornucopia" - including the interesting origins of "trivia" itself. Whether you love mythology, language, or both, you will find By Jove! indispensable. And if you didn't know how amusing myths and words could be, this book will acquaint you with their pleasures.