Through the Mythic Glass

How this Bibliography is Organized

I do a lot of research for the articles in Through the Mythic Glass, and I wanted to share an ever-growing list of sources I use if you’d like to read further on any of the topics in this Substack!

This list is not intended to be a comprehensive reading list or a catalog of everything I’ve ever read. It’s a collection of the works I return to most often, organized by subject to make them easier to explore. As this publication grows, this bibliography will continue to expand, too.

If you’re looking for something specific, I recommend using the search functionality on your computer (Ctrl+F on PC or Cmd+F on Mac) or the “Find in Page” option in your smartphone’s browser (like in Google Chrome).

If you can’t find what you’re looking for or have any questions about a source I’ve cited, please let me know in the comments!

Primary Sources

These are the foundational texts of the ancient and medieval worlds that most directly inform my work. They include epic poetry, mythology, plays, scripture, and other literary and religious works. Whenever possible, I list the specific translations or editions I have used.

This list is organized alphabetically by source, since I often refer to multiple translations of the same source. If there are multiple translations, I list my favorite translation first, followed by “ ———.” to indicate other translations I may refer to.

  • The Aeneid. Translated by Scott McGill and Susannah Wright. New York: Norton, 2025.

  • ———. Translated by Shadi Bartsch. New York: Penguin Random House, 2021.

  • Aesop's Fables. Translated by Robin Waterfield. New York: Basic Books, 2024.

  • The Annotated Arabian Nights: Tales from 1001 Nights. Translated by Yasmine Seale. New York: Liveright, 2021.

  • The Bible: Authorized King James Version. Edited by Robert Carroll and Stephen Prickett. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997.

  • Buddhist Scriptures. Translated by Edward Conze. London: Penguin Books, 2004.

  • The Clear Quran. Translated by Mustafa Khattab. Lombard, IL: Furqaan Foundation, 2015.

  • Dante: The Essential Commedia. Edited and translated by Prue Shaw. New York: Liveright, 2025.

  • The Divine Comedy. Translated by Michael Palma. New York: Norton, 2025.

  • Euripides V: Bacchae, Iphigenia in Aulis, The Cyclops, Rhesus. Third edition. Edited and translated by Mark Griffith, Glenn W. Most, David Grene, and Richmond Lattimore. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2013.

  • Gilgamesh. Translated by Stephen Mitchell. New York: Free Press, 2004.

  • Grief Lessons: Four Plays by Euripides. Translated by Anne Carson. New York: New York Review Books, 2006.

  • The Iliad. Translated by Emily Wilson. New York: Norton, 2023.

  • ———. Translated by Samuel Butler. New York: Barnes & Noble Classics, 2007. (Originally translated in 1898)

  • ———. Translated by Caroline Alexander. New York: Ecco, 2015.

  • Inferno. Translated by Mark Musa. London: Penguin Books, 2003.

  • Metamorphoses. Translated by Stephanie McCarter. New York: Penguin Classics, 2022.

  • ———. Translated by David Raeburn. London: Penguin Classics, 2004.

  • The Odyssey. Translated by Emily Wilson. New York: Norton, 2017.

  • ———. Translated by Daniel Mendelsohn. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2026.

  • ———.Translated by Samuel Butler. New York: Barnes & Noble Classics, 2005. (Originally translated in 1900)

  • An Oresteia. Translated by Anne Carson. New York: Faber & Faber, 2009.

  • The Orphic Myths. Translated by Apostolos N. Athanassakis and Benjamin M. Wolkow. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2013.

  • On Love and Barley: Haiku of Bashō. Translated by Lucien Stryk. London: Penguin Classics, 1964.

  • Since You're Mortal: Life Lessons from the Lost Greek Plays. Translated by James Romm. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2025.

  • The Tale of Princess Fatima, Warrior Woman: The Arabic Epic of Dhat al-Himma. Translated by Melanie Magidow. New York: New York University Press, 2020.

  • The Greek Plays. Edited by Mary Lefkowitz and James Romm. New York: Modern Library, 2017.

  • Women in Power. Edited by Stephanie McCarter. New York: Penguin Classics, 2024.

History

This section includes modern scholarship on the ancient or medieval world, archaeology, and historical interpretation that has influenced my work. I’ve listed these in order of their author’s last names since I often refer to more than one of their books.

  • Beard, Mary. Emperor of Rome. New York: Liveright, 2023.

  • Beard, Mary. SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome. New York: Liveright, 2015.

  • Beard, Mary. The Twelve Caesars. New York: Princeton University Press, 2021.

  • Brown, Nancy Marie. The Real Valkyrie. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2021.

  • Cooper, Kate. Queens of a Fallen World. New York: Basic Books, 2023.

  • Dozier, Curtis. The White Pedestal: How White Nationalists Use Ancient Greece and Rome to Justify White Supremacy. New York: PublicAffairs, 2025.

  • Garland, Robert. What to Expect When You’re Dead. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2023.

  • Haynes, Natalie. Divine Might. New York: Norton, 2023.

  • Haynes, Natalie. Pandora’s Jar. New York: Norton, 2020.

  • Hughes, Bettany. The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2023.

  • Hughes, Bettany. Venus and Aphrodite. New York: Basic Books, 2019.

  • Jarman, Cat. River Kings. New York: William Morrow, 2021.

  • Llewellyn-Jones, Lloyd. The Cleopatras. New York: Basic Books, 2024.

  • Romm, James. The Sacred Bond. New York: Scribner, 2024.

  • Southon, Emma. A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. London: Oneworld, 2023.

  • Trafford, L. J. Sex and Sexuality in Ancient Rome. London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2021.

Mythology

Books devoted to mythology as a field of study or to the mythic traditions of specific cultures.

  • Campbell, Joseph. Pathways to Bliss. Novato, CA: New World Library, 2004.

  • Fenkl, Heinz Insu. The Korean Myths. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2020.

  • Stuttard, David. Roman Mythology. London: Thames & Hudson, 2016.

Religion & Spirituality

Modern works exploring religious traditions, spiritual practice, and theology. Historical primary sources such as the Bible, the Quran, and Buddhist scriptures are listed under “Primary Sources”.

  • Adler, Margot. Drawing Down the Moon. New York: Penguin Books, 2006.

  • Armstrong, Karen. The Case for God. New York: Knopf, 2009.

  • Batchelor, Stephen. Buddhism Without Beliefs. New York: Riverhead Books, 1997.

Self-Help

Books on psychology, habits, and personal development that have influenced my thinking.

  • Burkeman, Oliver. The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking. New York: Faber & Faber, 2012.

  • Burkeman, Oliver. Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2021.

  • Duckworth, Angela. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. New York: Scribner, 2016.

Essays

These collections of essays have influenced my approach to cultural criticism.

  • Moore, Dinty W. To Hell with It. New York: W. W. Norton, 2023.

  • Zimmerman, Jess. Women and Other Monsters. Boston: Beacon Press, 2021.

Business & Economics

Books about the practical side of building and sustaining a creative project.

  • Fineman, Meredith. Brag Better. New York: Portfolio, 2020.

Writing

Books on the craft of writing, storytelling, and the creative practice.

  • Gilbert, Elizabeth. Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear. New York: Riverhead Books, 2015.

  • Goldberg, Natalie. Writing Down the Bones. Boston: Shambhala, 1986.