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Title: The Iliad by Homer, E.V. Rieu ISBN: 0-14-044014-3 Publisher: Penguin Books Pub. Date: April, 2003 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $9.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.57 (14 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: The real Iliad, made for kids
Comment: Seeing the recent movie Troy made me think about the kinds of stories I grew up with, and the kinds of stories my niece will grow up with. She likes MTV and television, and she likes to read, so she'll get a lot of stories. But I wonder if she'll get the classics?
This is the Iliad adapted for children. I would say the age range is as young as 8 years old up to 12 or 13 years of age. There are only really 40 pages, and a dozen of those pages are full color and nicely done pages showing in what might be a modern stylizing of ancient Greek drawings the action of the story.
This is very basic story. There is a prologue that sets the stage, that talks about the situation with Paris choosing the fairest of the goddesses and the stealing away of Helen. There is then a chapter on the quarrel, set after nine years of fighting. The second chapter has the duel between Paris and Menelaus, with Paris being saved miraculously. The idea that Achilles might leave the battle comes into it, but then Patroclus is also involved, who gets killed in the battle by Hector, who is then killed later in another battle by Achilles.
The story ends with the death and funeral of Hector, except to say that fighting resumed after the truce. The Trojan Horse is not in this story, but instead is found in Odyssey.
Because this is a book for children, there is a two page glossary of names at the back of the book, divided by giving the Greek side, the Trojan side, and the gods and goddesses involved. This is a very different story from the recent film, and given that it is a simplified version of the story for intended for children, it is a very good job of telling the Iliad. There is a companion volume also adapted by Diana Stewart for the Odyssey. The artwork in this book was done by Charles Shaw, and is quite colorful and interesting.
A good book for kids.
Rating: 5
Summary: Homer's epic poem on the rage of mighty Achilles
Comment: I long ago determined that the world of those interested in the Classical Literature of the Ancient Greeks that when it comes to Homer's epic poems there are those who prefer the "Iliad" and those who prefer the "Odyssey," and that this division is as significant as having to pick between the Beatles and Elvis in contemporary culture. My choice on the more ancient question is for the story of the rage of Achilles over the journal of Odysseus. From Achilles's fateful confrontation with Agamemnon over Briseis of the lovely arms to the magnificently emotional ending where King Priam comes to beg for the body of his slain son, Hector, from the man who killed him, I find this story has far greater resonance than the tale of Odysseus.
The epic story also seems to me to be more classically Greek, with the great hero who acts out of anger, comes to regret his folly, and seeks to make amends too late to save themselves from a tragic fate. Achilles is similar to Hercules in this regard, and although they are both strictly considered demi-gods, the Achaean hero ultimately seems more human. Additionally, Achilles's stature is enhanced by his opposition to the noble Hector, breaker of horses; acknowledging the better warrior does not take away from recognizing the greater hero. After all, it is the figure of Hector who begins the idealized notion of the worthy and noble opponent, which has continued throughout the course of Western civilization and included such historical figures as Robert E. Lee and Irwin Rommell.
Add to this the fact that all the gods and goddesses of Olympus are actively involved in the proceedings rather than Athena trying to save Odysseus from Poseideon's wrath, and I am convinced the "Iliad" is the more worthy book for inclusion into most classes dealing with Classical Mythology or the Ancient Greeks. This is where students will get the best understanding of the Homeric concept of the Olympian gods, which would then be challenged by the tragic poets of Athens several centuries later. Ironically, given the poem's beginning, the true dramatic climx of Homer's "Iliad" comes when King Priam goes to weep over the bloody hands of Achilles to ransom back Hector's body. That scene allow justifies compelling students to read the entire work.
Rating: 4
Summary: Homer's The Iliad
Comment: This translation was as good as any. I like that the book came across as a story, which is very important when reading. Some translations have the numbers in the margin telling you what line you are on. Though those numbers are used when reading a poem, and though the Iliad is a poem, I think the numbers would soon overwhelm or distract me and reveal what a long poem the Iliad really is. This translation, however, reveals the Iliad as an exciting and historical story. I usually don't get into these types of epics, but this translation made it easy for me to understand and become involved with the story. And if I did get stuck, the introduction provided a very nice explanation of what was happening. This translation worked well for me and I would definitely recommend it to others.
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Title: The Odyssey: The Story of Odysseus (Odyssey) by Homer, W. H. D. Rouse ISBN: 0451527364 Publisher: Signet Book Pub. Date: 01 August, 1999 List Price(USD): $5.95 |
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Title: The Odyssey by Homer, Derek Jacobi ISBN: 156511423X Publisher: Highbridge Audio Pub. Date: 15 July, 2000 List Price(USD): $44.95 |
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Title: Aeneid by Virgil, Paul Scofield ISBN: 9626342781 Publisher: Naxos Audiobooks Ltd. Pub. Date: 01 November, 2002 List Price(USD): $26.98 |
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Title:John Milton: Paradise Lost ASIN: 9626340029 Publisher: Naxos Pub. Date: 21 March, 1995 List Price(USD): $15.98 Comparison N/A, buy it from Amazon for $14.99 |
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Title: The Iliad (Cliffs Notes) by Bob Linn ISBN: 076458586X Publisher: Cliffs Notes Pub. Date: 05 June, 2000 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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