The Golden Fleece and the Heroes Who Lived Before Achilles by Padraic Colum (originally published 1921) was a Newbery runner-up (now named a Newbery Honor) in 1922, the first year the Newbery Medal existed. As a children’s volume of Greek myths, it felt familiar. As the title suggests, Colum focuses on telling the story of Jason as he traveled to Colchis to retrieve the Golden Fleece, the golden-wool from a winged ram of legend. By capturing the golden fleece, Jason will be named the rightful heir of the throne of Iolcus.
I’m a fan of Greek myths, thanks to reading D’Aulaire’s Greek Myths as a child (reviewed 2010) and Edith Hamilton’s Mythology as a young adult and again as an adult (reviewed 2016). As I read Colum’s book, I felt a sense of familiarity. I couldn’t quite remember Jason’s story; I don’t think either of the other books touch on the story of the Golden Fleece for long. And yet, there was something familiar about his journey, with Orpheus singing the stories of many other myths. Had I read this book, too, as a child?
Despite my love for Greek mythology, Colum’s book felt disorganized. In some respects, I struggled to stay focused. A few nights it put me to sleep. (As a disclaimer, I do feel like in my middle age, I find this happening even with books I like a lot!) Unlike the other mythology books I’ve read, The Golden Fleece attempts to tell the story of Jason chronology rather than thematically, by focusing on various stories of the gods. Orpheus “songs” of the other myths took me out of Jason’s story and made it feel disjointed. It just was not as engaging as I remember Greek myths to be. Mostly likely, children will not appreciate the mythological “tone” Colum integrates throughout the story telling. However, those who enjoy mythology will most likely enjoy this volume. It was an okay addition to my Greek mythology background understanding.
I rate The Golden Fleece and The Heroes Who Lived Before Achilles, Newbery Honor from 1922, as “pretty good” and say read it “maybe if you have time” (or the interest in mythology to keep you reading).
Newbery rating scale: FANTASTIC | REALLY GOOD | PRETTY GOOD | OKAY | BLAH/YUCK
What to do with this Newbery: KEEP IT AND READ IT | MAYBE IF YOU HAVE TIME | DON’T BOTHER