Canongate's The Myths books in order

Q: "How many books are in the Canongate's The Myths series?"

"There are 21 books in the Canongate's The Myths series, published between 2004 and 2013."

Q: "What is the first book in the Canongate's The Myths series?"

"The first book in the Canongate's The Myths series is A Short History of Myth, published in 2004."

Q: "How does the Canongate Myths series work?"

"The series commissions prominent novelists to each retell an ancient myth as a short novel. Each author picks a myth from any culture and reimagines it in their own style. Karen Armstrong's A Short History of Myth launched the project, followed by retellings from authors including Margaret Atwood, Jeanette Winterson, and Victor Pelevin."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	A Short History of Myth	2004	Jeanette Winterson	Buy
2	The Myths	2005	Jeanette Winterson	N/A
3	Lion’s Honey: The Myth of Samson	2005	Jeanette Winterson	Buy
4	The Penelopiad	2005	Jeanette Winterson	Buy
5	Weight	2005	Jeanette Winterson	Buy
6	The Helmet of Horror: The Myth of Theseus and the Minotaur	2005	Jeanette Winterson	N/A
7	Lion’s Honey	2005	Jeanette Winterson	N/A
8	The Helmet of Horror	2005	Jeanette Winterson	Buy
9	Where Three Roads Meet	2005	Jeanette Winterson	Buy
10	Dream Angus	2006	Jeanette Winterson	N/A
11	Anna In w grobowcach świata	2006	Jeanette Winterson	N/A
12	Baba Yaga Laid an Egg	2007	Jeanette Winterson	Buy
13	Binu and the Great Wall	2006	Jeanette Winterson	Buy
14	The Goddess Chronicle	2013	Jeanette Winterson	Buy
15	Where Three Roads Meet: The Myth of Oedipus	2005	Jeanette Winterson	N/A
16	O Conto da Deusa	2008	Jeanette Winterson	N/A
17	Orphans of Eldorado	2008	Jeanette Winterson	N/A
18	The Hurricane Party	2007	Jeanette Winterson	N/A
19	The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ	2009	Jeanette Winterson	N/A
20	Ragnarök	2011	Jeanette Winterson	N/A
21	The Song of King Gesar	2013	Jeanette Winterson	N/A

Canongate’s The Myths series is a publishing project conceived in 1999 by Canongate Books publisher Jamie Byng. The series commissions well-known writers to retell ancient myths from world cultures as short contemporary novels. The first titles launched in October 2005, with Karen Armstrong’s A Short History of Myth published simultaneously in 33 countries and 28 languages.

The series includes contributions from a wide range of literary voices. Margaret Atwood retold the Odyssey from Penelope’s perspective in The Penelopiad (2005). Jeanette Winterson reimagined the Atlas myth in Weight (2005). Philip Pullman retold the story of Jesus in The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ (2010), and A.S. Byatt took on Norse mythology in Ragnarok (2011). The contributing authors span multiple countries and literary traditions, giving the series an international scope.

Each book stands on its own as an independent novel while also engaging with its source myth. The series offers readers a way into ancient stories through the voices of contemporary writers, with results that vary widely in tone and approach.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Canongate's The Myths series?

There are 21 books in the Canongate’s The Myths series, published between 2004 and 2013.

What is the first book in the Canongate's The Myths series?

The first book in the Canongate’s The Myths series is A Short History of Myth, published in 2004.

How does the Canongate Myths series work?

The series commissions prominent novelists to each retell an ancient myth as a short novel. Each author picks a myth from any culture and reimagines it in their own style. Karen Armstrong’s A Short History of Myth launched the project, followed by retellings from authors including Margaret Atwood, Jeanette Winterson, and Victor Pelevin.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order