This was read to me 1968-70ish. Bigger than A4 sized beautifully illustrated hardcover book, with one “chapter” and picture per two pages. British published as I was in New Zealand. The stories of Helen of Troy, Paris, Achilles, and Ulysses were there.
This was a YA or middle-grade novel that I read in the late ’90s. It was a very loose Greek myth retelling that mashed together many familiar mythological elements into an original plot. Possible characters: Perseus, Medusa, Pan, Echo, Iphigenia. Some or all of it took place on an island which had a network of caves. One of the characters–maybe a plucky young girl–was stranded(?) on the island and encountered someone who became a friend/ally while exploring these caves. I also remember music magically wafting through the caves. Maybe that’s where Pan comes in?
The copy I had was paperback with some blue and purple on the cover. The physical book and style of writing didn’t strike me as “old-fashioned,” so I’m guessing it had been published in the ’80’s or ’90s…but I could be wrong about that.
I’m fairly certain the author was a woman.
Thanks so much for helping me solve this mystery! I remember absolutely loving this book.
I read a book when I was a young teen in the early 70’s and can’t recall the title or author. It centered around a group of kids who were friends. I think they were very young teens, like I was at the time. They could stop time and go to the world of mythology. I’m pretty sure it was Greek mythology. I recall them being bored in school and being able to do this several times in class. I think they were helping the Greek gods, or at least trying to. I also remember one boy earning a bowl from a god, and in it he could have whatever he wanted to eat by just imagining it. It was the most amazing book–and it obviously left its mark!
Thanks so much and good luck! I’ve been wanting to find this book for many, many years!
Greek mythology picture book published sometime before 2003. It has a brown cover. The pictures are in color. A specific picture, I recall, is a cyclops (probably Polyphemus) eating babies.