The essays in this volume are well-written and convey Vernant's erudition and insight in a way that will be of interest both to lay audiences and students of ancient Greece and its mythology. Several of the essays, such as "The Society of the Gods," and "The Reason of Myth" in particular also convey a good sense of Vernant's approach to the study of myth and history.

The back cover of the book bills the latter essay as containing a "critique of structuralism," which is something of an exaggeration if not simplification, probably meant to generate interest. Vernant does indeed discuss Levi-Strauss' work and outline certain reservations. His argument here is not totally original, but is still well-put, and he does not at all discount Levi-Strauss' approach, but rather sees it as an "incontournable" innovation in the scientific approach to the study of myth that needs to be integrated into a broader program that takes into account social and historical context. ( )