When i was asked to choose a myth to write about, i realized i had chosen already. 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. That sentence alone fails to capture the sweep of this slim little volume, or the depth to it. The myth of atlas and heracles the myths series winterson, jeanette, hill, dick, breck, susie on. Free download prombies sophomore edition by d k smith. The myth of atlas and heracles the myths by jeanette wintersonbook detail. Weight ebook by jeanette winterson 9780307367365 rakuten. In jeanette winterson s novel weight, the author demonstrates how myths have modern personal relevancies and can encourage each reader to investigate the three main subject matters in their lives. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook, and though it is short it is in no way trivial or an easy read. In weight, winterson s awardwinning skill in turning the familiar on its head and showing us a different truth is once more put to dazzling effect. The myth of atlas and heracles the myths book by jeanette winterson. The myth of atlas and heracles the myths kindle edition by winterson, jeanette. With her typical wit and verve, jeanette winterson brings atlas into the twentyfirst century.
The titan atlas, whose punishment it is to carry the world, literally, on his shoulders, is enlisted by the super. The book is really about the way we use narrative to construct ourselves and our identities. Listen to weight by jeanette winterson, dick hill, susie breck for free with a 30 day free trial. Visionary and inventive, believable and intimate, weight turns the familiar on its head to show us ourselves in a new light. The story of atlas and heracles atlas knows how it feels to carry the weight of the world. 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. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading weight. Jeanette winterson asks difficult questions about the nature of choice and coercion in her dazzling retelling of the myth of atlas and heracles. Weight presents her take on the classic atlas and heracles myth.
The first edition of the novel was published in 2005, and was written by jeanette winterson. Weight by jeanette winterson, dick hill, and susie breck. With wit and verve, whitbread awardwinning novelist jeanette winterson brings the mythical figure of atlas into the space age and sets him free at last. An exlibrary book and may have standard library stamps andor stickers. Weight by jeanette winterson, part of the canongate myths collection along with atwoods penelopiad, is a deconstructed retelling of the myth of atlas. Atlas has been punished by zeus, and has to carry the weight of the world upon his back. This firstperson voice in her texts, the authorial intrusion, and the autobiographical details are familiar enough from her previous work. Besides a creative reimagining of the classic greek myth winterson weaves in aspects of autobiography, history, sociology, and science. But then he receives an unexpected visit from heracles, the one man strong enough to share the burden. The story of atlas and heracles atlas knows how it feels to. Great philsophical retelling of a myth weight by jeanette winterson is the story of hercules and atlas. Listen to unlimited audiobooks on the web, ipad, iphone and android. The myth of atlas and heracles by jeanette winterson a copy that has been read, but remains in excellent condition. Weight by jeanette winterson book read online scribd.
In the story we are introduced to a hercules that is the ultimate male id running around the ancient world fornicating, masturbating, and killing unburdened. He is juxtaposed to atlas, the immortal titan, a creature of all burden. In ancient greek mythology atlas, a member of the original race of gods called titans, leads a. Jeanette winterson s retelling of the myth of atlas and heracles asks difficult and eternal questions about the nature of choice and coercion. When i was asked to choose a myth to write about, i realized i had chosen. The myth of atlas and heracles myths 9780676974232. Weight the myth of atlas and heracles 1st edition rent. Rent weight the myth of atlas and heracles 1st edition 9781841957999 and save up to 80% on textbook rentals and 90% on used textbooks. The myth of atlas and heracles book by jeanette winterson. A short history of myth, by karen armstrong weight, by jeanette. 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. Stories of finding love in unexpected places powerful stories of faith, hope, and love.
Winterson s story, weight, is a cover version of the myth of atlas and heracles. If the call had not come, perhaps i would never have written the story, but when the call did come, that story was waiting to be written. The story of atlas holding up the world was in my mind before the telephone call had ended. The second in eries, see a short history of myth in this issue for more information.
Of course i wrote it directly out of my own situation. 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. I wanted to explore loneliness, isolation, responsibility, burden, and freedom, too, because my version has a very particular end not found elsewhere. Pages are intact and are not marred by notes or highlighting, but may contain a neat previous owner name. Winterson focuses on atlass bamboozlement by heracles, who beguiles atlas into shifting the weight on to his shoulders, if atlas will appropriate.
Avaliable format in pdf, epub, mobi, kindle, ebook and audiobook. The myth of atlas and heracles myths main by winterson, jeanette isbn. Read weight by jeanette winterson for free with a 30 day free trial. In weight jeanette winterson retells the myths of atlas and heracles, and in her introduction explains.
Weight is the story of atlas and heracles as retold by jeanette winterson. Weight isbn 9781841957753 pdf epub jeanette winterson. 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. 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. Weight book the seattle public library bibliocommons. Despite its short length, 150 pages, it is not an easy book to get a handle on. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Jeanette winterson s first novel, oranges are not the only fruit won the whitbread prize for best first novel. The numerous references to walls throughout the novel signify the boundaries, which make atlas strive for freedom. Atlas did the unthinkable siding with the titans in their war against the olympian gods. So a few weeks ago while i browsed the shelves at the local branch of the library, i stumbled across one of the myths series written by author jeanette winterson that piqued my interest. The myth of atlas and heracles by jeanette winterson.
Less than 150 pages, weight is winterson s reimagining of the myth of atlas and heracles sometimes known as hercules. Weight the myth of atlas and heracles 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. Weight moves far away from the simple story of atlas s punishment and his temporary relief when hercules 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. Weight carries on in the same vein, and jeanette winterson s mix of autobiography and mythical tales works brilliantly, especially as the two other narrators take the roles of various characters in the stories. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 151 pages and is available in hardcover format. Read weight the myth of atlas and heracles by jeanette winterson available from rakuten kobo. Jeanette winterson asks difficult questions about the nature of choice and coercion in her dazzling retelling.
With wit and verve, jeanette winterson s weight brings atlas into the space age and sets him free at last. We often feel like we have the weight of the world on our shoulders. In her retelling of the story of a god tricked into holding the world on his shoulders and his brief reprieve, she. Jeanette wintersons weight brings atlas into the space age and sets him free. Visionary and inventive, weight turns the familiar on its head to show us ourselves in a new light. The myth of atlas and heracles by jeanette winterson retells the encounter between atlas and heracles, when the hero arrives to collect apples from the garden of the hesperides and thereby completes his canonical labour. 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. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. 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. Atlas, punished for fighting against the olympian gods, must hold up the kosmos for eternity. Join in on my discussionrant of jeanette winterson s weight.
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