Colum's task in retelling the story of the Golden Fleece was to make Jason, Heracles, Medea, and the other familiar figures in the tale credible. The most interesting figure is Jason, whom Colum portrays as hungry for glory but easily distracted, especially by offers of pleasure and comfort. Essentially weak, Jason is often driven by fear—an emotion rarely displayed by heroes in classical literature. When his uncle Pelias indirectly challenges Jason to bring back the Golden Fleece—the most treasured possession of Aeetes, the king of faraway Colchis—Jason sets forth on the Argo with a band of fellow heroes and explorers, primary among them the legendary strongman, Heracles (Hercules).

Colum's portrait of Heracles is convincing, especially when viewed against the weakness of Jason. A man of superhuman strength, Heracles demonstrates remarkable constancy and singleness of purpose. Colum's female characterizations...