The Adventures of Ulysses

by Bernard Evslin

The legendary adventures of the Greek king’s epic journey come to life in a modern retelling of The Odyssey that’s “an unmitigated delight” (School Library Journal).   In their ten-year siege of Troy, the Greeks claim victory thanks to the cunning wit of Ulysses, King of Ithaca, who devised the infamous Trojan Horse. Now, with the epic war finally finished, Ulysses sets sail for home—but his journey will be long and arduous. Having angered Poseidon, god of the sea, Ulysses and his men are thrown off course by a raging storm and forced to wander the perilous world for another ten years.   On his epic trek, Ulysses must match wits and strength with man-eating Sirens, a towering Cyclops, the witch-goddess Circe, and a slew of other deadly foes. Meanwhile, in Ithaca, his wife, Penelope, and son, Telemachus, contend with a rowdy mob of suitors who have taken over their home in an attempt to usurp the absent ruler’s place.

Genres: Mythology, Fiction, Fantasy, Classics, School, Young Adult, Read For School

195 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

Bernard Evslin was an author best known for his adaptations of Greek mythology. With over seventy titles, which include both novel-length retellings and short stories, Evslin is one of the most widely published authors of classical mythology in the world. His best-known work is Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths, which has sold more than ten million copies worldwide and has been translated into ten different languages. An estimated 30 million students have come into contact with Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths due to its repeated use in high school and college classrooms over the years. This bestselling anthology includes such well-known stories as "Theseus and the Minotaur" and "Perseus and Medusa." He also published non-Hellenic titles such as The Green Hero, based on the Irish mythological character Finn McCool. He also was involved in an audio book called: "Children of the Corn." It included "Whistling Boy" a Native American tale; "Pancho's Puppets," a story about a boy in Mexico, and other stories.

Reviews

[Louie the Mustache Matos · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 80-year-old father recently moved out of my childhood home. He re-married after losing my mom several years ago to cancer. Since he left, I decided to start revamping the house to move back in. When I entered his home office, I didn't realize he had kept some of my books from elementary school which I discovered while cleaning.

This is one of my books from fifth grade. It looked familiar to me, enough that I figured that I could give it a quick read before boxing it up. I remember that when I was in 5th grade, I asked my father for some books from the Scholastic catalog. It's wonderful that he kept it along with a host of others. I would realize later on that these adventures mimic The Odyssey mythology.

The Greek Gods, the Furies, the Cyclops, Cylla and Charybdis are all here causing a ruckus. While Ulysses must make his way back home after fighting the Trojan War, he faces a myriad of monsters and trials to get to Ithaca where Penelope and Telemachus await.

[Riley · Rating 1 out of 5]

This may not be the worst book I've ever read, but it defiantly on the list. I extremely disliked how the author wrote this book. In each chapter there would be a new problem and Ulysses would solve it and they would then move onto a new island. It was like that for the whole story, a island, a new problem, and Ulysses always solved it. Also, even though I do realize that this is fiction, some of the things Ulysses did was impossible, even in this setting. Ulysses may be a hero, but he is not a god. Although he did have some help from the gods at times, it is physically impossible for a mortal man, Ulysses in this case, to lift a giant rock by himself and throw it to crush some of his enemies. I don't know if anyone I know will enjoy this book because I certainly didn't.

[Dimitra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every child has grown up reading, or being read, tales.
My favorites were, and still are, Snow White and the Odyssey.

I can't even recall how many times I've watched the amazing 1997 movie of Odyssey with Armand Assante and Isabella Rosellini!!!

I've read the original "epos" of Homer too, and all I want to say is that B.Evslin did an amazing job!
I really enjoyed reading again the adventures of Ulysses!

I think it's the most epic story of all time and EVERYONE must read it!

[j.chestnut · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an assigned read so going into it I had no expectations. I was pleasantly surprised. I liked the action in it.

[Hunter Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in 6th grade, and it has been fondly remembered ever since. Hands down, it was the book that had the most impact on me and long considered my favorite 'assigned reading'. I spent years fascinated by Greek mythology and went on to read The Odyssey and The Iliad.

I found a copy of The Adventure of Ulysses and was excited and worried to read it again forty years later. Would it hold up after all these years? I'm happy to say that it did. This is a wonderful adaptation of the Homer classic, made accessible for younger readers (smack between middle grade and young adult). I was just as thrilled reading about Ulysses's trials and tribulations, battling gods and monsters, as I had been way back when. So happy I found it. I will make sure another 40 years don't go by before I read it again.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

We're reading this book for English class right now.
Before we started reading about Greek myths and legends, I knew nothing, not the slightest thing. But after reading a couple of books... I LOVE IT!!!
Greek myths are intriguing myths that draw you into a magical world full of adventure, danger and excitement.
I'm especially interested in reading about all the perils Ulysses had to face in order to go home to Ithaca... it's AWESOME!!!
I don't care about what other people say, this book is really good and if you're a person who loves reading about thrilling odysseys and dangers lurking in every page, I recommend this book.

[Misterdoctorproffesorpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

One word: IT WAS AMAZING!!!... Wait... (Counting on fingers)... That's 3 words. Nevermind. I loved this book. But then again, I am a mythology geek. And because of that, not a lot of other people are. This book was descriptive, short, sweet, and the characters had life-like emotions. Ulysses was sometimes a jerk, and he was very confident in himself. Like the title says, the book focuses mainly on him. I recommend this book to fellow mythology geeks, and people who can read a lot of old words like "ye".

[Jaredh · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the worst book I've ever read. Giving this book one star is too much. The whole book repeats itself until the last chapter. The last chapter cuts to the chase and then it's over.

[Anna Pereira · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that this book is very interesting and it was very fun to read it! I would say that after all Ulysses did the right choices throughout the book even though he shouldn't have stabbed Polyphemus' eye, because that was the reason that Ulysses was left wondering all these years at sea and if he hadn't done it he would have been home a long time ago! Ulysses is a very brave men and I think that he deserves to go to The Elysian Fields when he dies because he is definitely a hero.
The Adventures of Ulysses book is about a sailor that goes on a journey to save a girl named Hellen. When he goes to save Hellen, he uses a strategy that angered Poseidon, the god of the sea, because it wasn't meant to him and meant to the Trojans. As the gods are very jealous, Poseidon choses to trick Ulysses for a while but afterwards Ulysses blinds Poseidon's son Polyphemus and that made Poseidon even madder so, as Polyphemus asked for, Poseidon makes Ulysses wonder at sea for 20 years before getting home! Ulysses meets many people throughout his voyage and he also looses all his crew members!!
I would recommend this book to people between the ages of 10 and 15 because people that are younger than 10 years old won't understand the book because of the vocabulary and because it is very hard to understand all the things that are going on at the same time because it is very confusing. And I don't recommend this to people that are older than 15 years old because I don't think that people that are above that age like this kind of adventures but if they like myths and gods I think they might enjoy it, even though they can find more complicated books to read!

[K.R. Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as a child and have read it every few years. It was the book that inspired me to start travelling, to want to see the world outside of my city. Ulysses was my hero. He was strong, wise, and goal oriented, and seemed to come through despite getting his ass knocked around by monsters and gods. I absolutely love this book.

[Lindsay Ferrier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I still remember reading and LOVING this book in junior high. I highly recommend it now for middle grade readers because it presents the story of Ulysses for younger readers in a compelling and highly readable way. Ulysses references come up quite a bit in life, and thanks to this book, I have always known (and loved) the story and understood the context of those references.

[Kaylin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book for people who want an easier side of the Odyssey.
Had to read for school.
Wasn't very interesting.
Felt like the same thing was happening over and over again.
Thank you for reading.

[Igor · Rating 4 out of 5]

That fighting is cool and dont mess with people with beards

[Aedan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was pretty good because it had a lot of suspense, action, drama and other words that describe this story. It was also cool that this book was based of the Odyssey that was made hundreds of years ago by a blind Greek poet. Some parts of this book reached a high point in excitement that might of won over the reader's heart mind, but some parts were a bit of a let down. For example, the bottom of page 156 was kind of a let down because when we finally meet Argo, Ulysses's 21 year old dog, he immediately dies in Ulysses's hands with out any warming moments, he just dies. The dog was waiting for Ulysses for 20 years, and his, life just goes to waste. One scene that was pretty exciting was when Ulysses throws the giant rock slab at the suitors and kills them all with one try. That was awesome seeing the hero in action in front of his beloved family. Even though this wasn't included, I could imagine Ulysses and Penelope reuniting with each other after Ulysses killed all of the soon-to-be husbands. Another thing that was cool about the book was that the story wasn't cheesy, and not everyone lived happily ever after. All of Ulysses's men were either killed by foreign soldiers, a god or cyclops, a giant cannibal, a large monster, and nature's trickery, or they went missing after the sun titan Hyperion's wrath. The final thing I want to mention is that Ulysses has a caring heart for Penelope and Telemachus. He could've easily married Circe, Calypso, Ino or Nausicaa, but he wanted to stay with his original, immortal wife that he left 20 years ago. Ulysses also cares for his son because he wants to know Telemachus's whereabouts, what he is doing and if anything has happened to him. Ulysses also desperately wants to meet his son because he was just a baby when he left Ithaca. Ulysses also wanted to help fight of the suitors.

[Caleb D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Adventure Of Ulysses
Bernard Evslin

I through the that this book was very good and filled with adventure. You see this whole thing started when Ulysses (the guy that came up with the Trojan horse) started his journey home when they found unprotected riches in a unprotected village and attacked even though they had spoils of war in there ships. Well, the city was booby trapped and they lost a few men and lost all there treasure. The main characters are Ulysses the gods and Ulysses family. This book is about Greek mythology so to me it was interesting to see other people's view on how the world was made and who controlled the world. The ending I really like it has Ulysses and his family take over the castle from princes trying to marry Ulysses wife. Including the story about Ulysses bow who nobody can pull accept him. I would highly recommend this book.

[Hayden Stoddard · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book "Ulysseus" by Bernard Evslin, was a good book if you like Greek mythology, and action. "Ulysseus" takes place after the downfall of the great city Troy. The book is about the journey home for Ulysseus and his men. Only Ulysseus makes it back to his kingdom in Ithaca. I really liked this book because it had constant action throughout, and was tough to put down. I especially liked a part in the book where Ulysseus and his men find themselves on the island of Polyphemus. Polyphemus is a giant, who eats humans. Ulysseus and his men find themselves trapped in Polyphemus' cave. Ulysseus stabs out Polyphemus' eye and him and his men escape out of the cave via under the bellies of giant sheep. I enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to anyone with an interest of mythology, action, and clever trickery.

[Ima_delightwood · Rating 1 out of 5]

My teacher gave us the option to read it at school, since we are studying Greek Mythology. I decided to give it a try, just because I was out of books to read. And guess what? I hated this book.

It was the worst book I read this year, honestly. I found myself at some points pushing myself to get through it. I didn't like Ulysses all that much, or any of the characters. It was quite boring, despite the action. The whole love situation Ulysses found himself in was quite horrifying, considering his wife at home.

The first 30 pages were okay, and then it just went downhill from there. It was a short book, but it felt like the longest slump in the world. Don't read it. You'll waste your time

[Dayna Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

An edited retelling of Homer's Odyssey in modern English. Most of the adventures are covered and this is a wonderful introduction to the "real thing" since having some background will enhance the understanding of Homer's original work. Better than Cliff Notes! Of course, nothing beats Homer's original.

[hal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for 6th grade English

When I first read this when I was 11 years old, I thought it was too bloody and descriptive and yet boring.

My opinion has changed.

Tbh, I've never actually read the Iliad. But I know the story well. And I love it.

Because of that, I think I should give this another shot. I'll probably read the original Odyssey as well.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very readable account of Homer's Odyssey, portraying Ulysses as a strong but conflicted leader. It's a bit distressing to read about the huge number of losses he suffers with his crew and the ending is a bit far-fetched, but hey! this is mythological writing at its best.

[Ellieana · Rating 1 out of 5]

NOT A GOOD BOOK!!!!

[Giao Phan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book because the adventures were really cool and it tell's the story really straight forward.

[Em theglitterybookworm_ · Rating 1 out of 5]

0.5/5.0 what even was that?

[Keith Allan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ulysses in space

[E.G. Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ulysses, the leader who conquered Troy -who created the Trojan Horse- is on a journey home with his men only to find the great perils of gods, goddesses, monsters, and demigods in his path. The Adventures of Ulysses by Benard Evslin is a modern retelling of the Greek mythology tale of the Odyssey about a king wandering for ten years trying to return to his home Ithaca. Ulysses and his crew anger the god Poisedon which creates a chain reaction in events all in favor of never letting Ulysses see his family ever again. I was excited to read this book because my brother loves Greek mythology and I wanted to be able to talk with him about some of the stories within its vast amount of folklore. I enjoyed the simplicity of the writing and made it easy to understand the story. The part of the story when Ulysses met Circe was my favorite due to the complexity of her character on how she fell in love with Ulysses but couldn’t have him because of his strong will to go to Ithaca. I did find it annoying to read the ending because it felt dragged on and the enemies seemed to be unnatural in their place in the story. I would rate this book a ⅗ star because it kept me interested to finish it but wasn’t my favorite and could have been better developed from the Odyssey. I would recommend this book to people who like Greek mythology and any person above the age of twelve.

[Diego Vilches · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bernard Evslin's The Adventures of Ulysses retells the famous story of Ulysses and his dangerous journey home after the Trojan War. This book is full of exciting adventures as Ulysses faces monsters, gods, and many other things like the Cyclops, Sirens, and Scylla. Each one is a test of his bravery and intelligence. What got to me was the part where he fooled the Cyclops by his name being "Nobody " that showed just how smart and calm he is in really frightening situations. Again, at the same time, the story is like a little repetitive since always after one problem came out the last one, never let poor Ulysses free.
This book reminded me of how important it is to stay determined, even when life gets hard. Ulysses never gave up trying to get back to his family, no matter how many obstacles he had to go through. It made me think about times when school or life felt overwhelming but pushing through made things better in the end. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mythology stories and adventure. It is a fun book with lots of action, and there are lessons about never giving up.

[Gail Sacharski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as part of my grandson's literacy assignment to help him with his homework. I've always enjoyed Greek mythology & the story of Ulysses has been one of my favorites since childhood so this was a great reminisence. I'd forgotten some of his adventures on his long trip home to Ithaca. I really enjoyed it.

[Indie · Rating 3 out of 5]

... will write a review... someday... never...idk...?

[Bubbles123 · Rating 1 out of 5]

ulysses was one of the worst books i have ever read. All it talked about was war, war,and more war. I think it would be better for a guy because their into action, but not for a girl.I gave it one star because it was boring. I was actually forced to read it as a grade. It was out of my hands, but i never want to read it again!!!!!

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

did not like this book. i liked the story, but its written badly and non-climaxicly.this was one of the books i was assigned to read in class. not that good, but i guess if u r into greek mythology, go for it, whatever. its just not that great