Black Ships Before Troy: The Story of 'The Iliad'
by Rosemary Sutcliff
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Book Summary Information
Author: Rosemary SutcliffBrand: Laurel Leaf
Edition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2005-12-13
ISBN: 055349483X
Number of pages: 151
Publisher: Laurel Leaf
Book Reviews of Black Ships Before Troy: The Story of 'The Iliad'
Book Review: Delightful Shortcut to the Iliad
Summary: 5 Stars
We all know that as literate adults we should read the Iliad. I did, back in college. But now I have a teenage son, and we're studying Ancient Greece right now. I just couldn't bring myself to make him read the full version yet, so I shopped for an alternate version. After reading scores of reader reviews of various books, I settled on this one. And, boy, am I glad I did!
When the Amazon box arrived (don't you just love getting those boxes?) I picked up Black Ships to take a look before I passed it to my son. But I didn't hand it over until I'd read the whole thing! It's fabulous!
Remember when you read the Iliad, how hard it was to keep track of all the different characters, and who had offended whom, and who came from where, and all those little details? That, on top of deciphering the archaic language form, made the reading somewhat tedious. Interesting, yes, but it took effort! This version was so much more fun. I didn't have to keep flipping back and forth in order to keep up, and the story just surged along. Furthermore, Sutcliff manages to keep the flavor of the original tome intact, using vivid prose.
My son is enjoying it so far, too - he's reading it of his own free will! And I believe his experience will be positive enough that when it comes time to read Iliad and Odyssey, he will be excited. (And actually read the full version and not some abridged form or, heaven forbid... Cliff Notes!!!)
So, if you just want to brush up on your memory of the Iliad, or introduce it to some reluctant reader, or you have a child in mind, then I highly recommend this book. She's done a fantastic job.
One caveat, this version does not have illustrations...
Summary of Black Ships Before Troy: The Story of 'The Iliad'
The Story of the IliadHomer's epic poem, The Illiad, is one of the greatest adventure stories of all time. In it, the abduction of the legendary beauty, Helen of Troy, leads to a conflict in which even the gods and goddesses take sides and intervene. It is in the Trojan War that the most valiant heroes of the ancient world are pitted against one another. Here Hectore, Ajax, Achilles, and Odysseus meet their most formidable challenges and in some casas their tragic ends.
Rosemary Sutcliff makes such extraordinary stories as those of those Trojan horse, of Aphrodite and the golden apple, and of the fearsome warrior women Amazons, accessible to contemporary young people.
From the Hardcover edition.
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