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Stories from the Iliad or, the Siege of Troy: Told to the Children
A masterful retelling of the story of the siege of Troy, as contained in The Iliad. Written especially for younger readers, this book provides a perfect introduction to the storyline contained in the classic work, starting from the events which led to the ten-year siege of Troy by a coalition of Greek states, and ending with the death of Hector after the climactic final battle which featured the hero warrior Achilles. The reader will meet the famous characters Paris, Helen, Hector, Ajax, and many others, all of whom have passed into the realms of European folklore, even though the events of The Iliad occurred over 2,500 years ago. Along with The Odyssey, The Iliad is among the oldest existing works of Western literature, with the earliest written version dating to around the eighth century BC. It is a vital work for anyone seeking a well-rounded classical education. This version has been completely reset and hand-edited and contains the original illustrations by W. Heath Robinson. Contents Chapter I: The Story of What Led to the Siege of Troy Chapter II: How Achilles and Agamemnon Fell Out Chapter III: The Council Chapter IV: The Fight between Paris and Menelaus Chapter V: How Menelaus Was Wounded; and the Brave Deeds of Diomedes Chapter VI: Hector and Andromache Chapter VII: The Fight between Hector and Ajax Chapter VIII: The Burning of the Dead; and the Battle of the Plain Chapter IX: The Message to Achilles Chapter X: The White Horses of Rhesus Chapter XI: The Fighting on the Plain Chapter XII: How Patroclus Fought and Died Chapter XIII: The Rousing of Achilles
69 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1905
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February 27, 2023
3.5 stars
Jeanie Lang (1867-1932) was a turn of the twentieth century Scottish author who was introduced to the literary world by her uncle Andrew, who was the first to translate The Odyssey into English. Her first book was, not surprisingly, a reworking of The Odyssey and The Iliad into a version suitable for younger readers. (blurb from Google books)
Her “Stories from the Iliad” was a great introduction to the battles fought over the city of Troy, and the Greeks’ attempts to capture the beautiful Helen and return her to her husband Menelaus.
The gist of the book begins after ten years of weary fighting and recounts the valiant efforts on both sides (often undermined by the intervention of capricious gods). I was familiar with some of the names such as Paris, Odysseus and Hector, but was introduced to several new ones such as Diomedes, Nestor and Pandarus.
Some readers may be put off by the stilted, old-fashioned writing, but since I read a lot of vintage fiction, I enjoyed it. (“Glad was Achilles as he put on the armor, and terrible was his war cry as he roused the Greek warriors” and “like a mighty oak smitten by lightening he fell” are just a few examples.)
My only quibble is that the Trojan horse escapade, easily the best-known episode of the whole book, was jammed into the last few paragraphs. I had expected a little more storytelling on that event.
Jeanie Lang (1867-1932) was a turn of the twentieth century Scottish author who was introduced to the literary world by her uncle Andrew, who was the first to translate The Odyssey into English. Her first book was, not surprisingly, a reworking of The Odyssey and The Iliad into a version suitable for younger readers. (blurb from Google books)
Her “Stories from the Iliad” was a great introduction to the battles fought over the city of Troy, and the Greeks’ attempts to capture the beautiful Helen and return her to her husband Menelaus.
The gist of the book begins after ten years of weary fighting and recounts the valiant efforts on both sides (often undermined by the intervention of capricious gods). I was familiar with some of the names such as Paris, Odysseus and Hector, but was introduced to several new ones such as Diomedes, Nestor and Pandarus.
Some readers may be put off by the stilted, old-fashioned writing, but since I read a lot of vintage fiction, I enjoyed it. (“Glad was Achilles as he put on the armor, and terrible was his war cry as he roused the Greek warriors” and “like a mighty oak smitten by lightening he fell” are just a few examples.)
My only quibble is that the Trojan horse escapade, easily the best-known episode of the whole book, was jammed into the last few paragraphs. I had expected a little more storytelling on that event.
Displaying 1 of 1 review