The Greek Way

By: Edith Hamilton

Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon

The aim of this work is not a history of events but an account of the achievement and spirit of Greece.

“What the Greeks discovered, how they brought a new world to birth out of the dark confusions of an old world that had crumbled away, is full of meaning for us today who have seen an old world swept away.”

In The Greek Way, Edith Hamilton shares the fruits of her thorough study of Greek life, literature, philosophy, and art. She interprets their meaning and brings us a realization of the refuge and strength the past can offer us in the troubled present. Hamilton’s book has taken its place among the few interpretative volumes that are permanently rooted and profoundly alive in our literature.

©1930 , 1943 by W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. © renewed 1958 by Edith Hamilton (P)1994 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“A book of both cultural and critical importance.”

(New York Times)

“At last, a landmark recording of Hamilton’s magnificent, in-depth overview of Greek life, civilization, literature, art, theater, rhetoric, and history, making this key work of cultural and critical significance available to the audio generation…This program is well read by Nadia May.”

(Library Journal)

Greatest and Most Important Book in my life

Like Robert Kennedy after the death of JFK, I found this book in a time of suffering and was introduced to the Classical Athens. This book has soul.

Awesome

Wonderful exploration of classical Greek culture, mindset, art and literature compared to modern European/ British culture, art and literature. I thought it was excellent and very entertaining

Engaging Narration & Fantastic Content

The narrator, Nadia May, did a fantastic job speaking clearly and poignantly to engage the listener in this audiobook, which could otherwise be a difficult listen.

May’s talent as a narrator shines forth most clearly when she must read poetry or theatrical dialog. These passages would entangle most readers of the printed book. With May’s narration, however, these passages come to life with vigor.

This classic work published in 1930 by Edith Hamilton is still worth reading. The only parts that aged, I feel, are the first chapters which contrast Greek civilization with Eastern and Egyptian civilization, and Hamilton puts down the foreigners so as to build up the Greeks. That didn’t hold up for me in the 21st century. But after those passages, once she gets into the historians and tragedians of classical Greece, this book delivers a lyrical and profound synthesis of this civilization. The result of reading this is that it makes you reflect on yourself, your own heroism, tragedy and pursuit of arete. This book of history is, in the end, a book of philosophy and self-improvement. It’s a classic that still delivers a punch!

Always liked Edith Hamilton

Book is beautifully read. The audio has some slight recording issues (nothing substantial). Overall a great read.

Good

The text shows its age in a few places, and one can quibble with some of Hamilton’s assertions, but overall this is an excellent overview of Greek thought and important Greek authors. Listen and be inspired to pick up the Greats.