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Chimera

John Barth

1972286 pagesabout 4–7 hours
1972
first published
  • 1972Random House · 308 pages · ENGISBN 9780394481890
  • 1973Fawcett · 320 pages · ENG
  • 1974Deutsch · 308 pages · ENGISBN 9780233965512
  • 1977Quartet Books · 308 pages · ENGISBN 9780704331136
  • 1982Granada · 286 pages · ENGISBN 9780586055229
  • 2001Houghton Mifflin · 308 pages · ENGISBN 9780618131709
  • 1981Fawcett · ENGISBN 9780449237977
  • 1985Fawcett · ENGISBN 9780449211137

Barth retells the tales of Scheherezade of the Thousand and One Nights, Perseus, and Bellerophon from varying perspectives, examining the myths' relationship to reality and their resonance with the contemporary world. Dunyazade, Scheherazade's kid sister, holds the destiny of herself and the prince who holds her captive. Perseus, the demigod who slew the Gorgon Medusa, finds himself at forty battling for simple self-respect like any common mortal. Bellerophon, once a hero for taming the winged horse Pegasus, must wrestle with a contentment that only leaves him wretched.

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