Heroes: The myths of the Ancient Greek heroes retold (Stephen Fry’s Greek Myths, 2)

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In 2012, Fry wrote the foreword to the Union of UEA Students report on the student experience for LGBT+ members. [159] As recognition of his public support for LGBT+ rights and for the Union's report, the Union of UEA Students awarded him, on 18 October 2012, Honorary Life Membership of the Union. [160] In March 2014 Fry beat David Attenborough and Davina McCall to win the Best Presenter award at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards. The award was given for his BBC2 programme Stephen Fry: Out There. [161] In an episode of QI, "M-Merriment", originally broadcast in December 2015, Fry was awarded membership of The Magic Circle.

On 18 May 2018, Fry participated in the semi-annual Munk Debates in Toronto, Canada, where he argued against political correctness on the Con side of the topic "Be it resolved, what you call political correctness, I call progress..." alongside Jordan Peterson, and in opposition to Pro side represented by Michelle Goldberg and Michael Eric Dyson. [194] [195] During the debate, Fry paraphrased a famous sentence from the 1923 essay I Am Afraid, in which Old Bolshevik-turned- Soviet dissident Yevgeny Zamyatin denounced censorship in the Soviet Union. The original sentence reads, "True literature can exist only when it is created, not by diligent and reliable officials, but by madmen, hermits, heretics, dreamers, rebels and skeptics." [196] Fry's rendering, however, reads, "Progress is not achieved by preachers and guardians of morality, but by madmen, hermits, heretics, dreamers, rebels, and sceptics." [197] I read the US Hardcover version and I have to say it is a beautiful edition featuring stunning classical artwork inspired by these stories. The author draws from multiple sources and does not fail to mention the different versions of the same story (if and when applicable). Contemporary references inspired by the myths make for interesting reading, as does the author’s distinctive style of storytelling, without digressing too much from the main stories. Though many of these characters and their stories were briefly mentioned in Mythos, in Heroes the author goes into much more detail. The glossary of the characters at the end of the book was very useful for reference because with so many characters and their complicated lineage, it does get a bit confusing in parts.His rewritings are domesticated, then – but not revisionist. To this storyteller, Medusa is just “appallingly foul”: there’s no allowance made for her story’s blatant misogyny. Fry talks reverently about Promethean fire and human exceptionalism, about Icarus and the drive towards progress that the Greeks seeded at the heart of our civilisation. From an Anthropocene vantage point, some might question whether the impulse to build one’s own wings and fly suicidally close to the sun ought to be celebrated. Not Fry; he thinks it’s what makes us great. In 2010, Fry was made a Distinguished Supporter of the British Humanist Association, stating: "it is essential to nail one's colours to the mast as a humanist." [235] Later that year, Fry joined 54 other public figures in signing an open letter published in The Guardian stating their opposition to Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United Kingdom being a state visit. [236] On 22 February 2011, Fry was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award in Cultural Humanism by the Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard University. [237] [238]

Stephen Fry: "it is essential to nail one's colours to the mast as a humanist" ". British Humanist Association. 10 February 2010. Following his first book on Greek mythology “Mythos” ( https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), Stephen Fry continue to explore the classical tales of ancient Greece with “Heroes”, which explores the stories around such famous characters as Heracles, Jason, Theseus, Orpheus, Atalanta and Oedipus. Return to theatre and documentaries [ edit ] Fry signing autographs at the Apple Store, Regent Street, London in 2009 SpotCo – Entertainment & Arts Advertising". shakespearebroadway.com. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013.

Watts, Steve (21 April 2009). "Stephen Fry Lending British Charm to Little Big Planet PSP". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016 . Retrieved 18 October 2018. Stephen Fry: A restless soul", The Independent, London, archived from the original on 5 December 2008 , retrieved 9 February 2014 Charter, David (16 July 2009). "Right-wing Polish MEP Michal Kaminski becomes Tories controversial EU leader". London . Retrieved 9 October 2009. In particular, the final chapter was wonderful. It was actually magical. I was just blown away by Fry's description of why he loves these myths, and their importance to him, and why they should be key to our lives. It was amazing, and really summarised everything that Fry can bring to his story. Fry, Stephen (2002). Rescuing the Spectacled Bear: A Peruvian Diary. Hutchinson. ISBN 978-0-8129-6819-4.

a b Fry, Stephen (2010). The Fry Chronicles: An Autobiography. Michael Joseph. pp.234–237. ISBN 978-0-7181-5483-7. "Education is the sum of what students teach each other in between lectures and seminars" Reception with Stephen Fry". Standtoreason.org. Archived from the original on 7 February 2011 . Retrieved 7 June 2011. For some months now I have been wriggling my way through the fascinating world of Greek Mythology and I have finally come to the realisation these stories are Nursery Rhymes for Grown-ups. Having read and watched a few of these tales, I know how they end, I always know what the heroes and villains will do, but I just want to hear it again and again and each time I hear/watch a story – it's always slightly different. More often than not there’s a different spin, or a slightly divergent theme. Even though these stories were created many, many years ago they are still very much alive. Just as delightful and difficult to put down as the first. Heroes makes the stories relatable without skimping on the gory details, or sacrificing the truths of the myth. It's rich, it's funny and you'll feel like you've learned a lot Herald In Heroes: The Greek Myths Reimagined, Stephen Fry’s retelling of the timeless tales of the “heroes", we learn about the origins, quests, triumphs and legacies of Perseus, Heracles, Bellerophon, Orpheus, Jason, Oedipus and Atalanta. The stories of Atalanta, the only female among the heroes and that of Bellephoron were completely new for me and I enjoyed them thoroughly. The Labors of Heracles and the story of Jason and the Argonauts were my personal favorites. I particularly enjoyed getting to know more about the mythical creatures the heroes go up against. Stephen Fry’s characteristic humor and wit render this an informative, entertaining and engaging read.

Audiobook

Roberts, Jem (2018). Soupy Twists! The Full Official Story of the Sophisticated Silliness of Fry and Laurie. Unbound. p.56. ISBN 9781783524518.