Blurb:
Following
his highly acclaimed dramatization of the Odyssey, Simon Armitage here takes on
the fate of Troy, bringing Homer’s Iliad to life with refreshing imaginative
vision. In the final days of the Trojan War, the Trojans and the Greeks are
caught in a bitter stalemate. Exhausted and desperate after ten years of
warfare, gods and men battle among themselves for the glory of recognition and
a hand in victory. Cleverly intertwining the Iliad and the Aeneid, Armitage
poetically narrates the tale of Troy to its dire end, evoking a world plagued
by deceit, conflict, and a deadly predilection for pride and envy. As with the
Odyssey, Armitage reveals the echoes of ancient myth in our contemporary
war-torn landscape, and reinvigorates the classic epics with adventure,
passion, and, surprisingly, Shakespearean wit.
Review:
Simon
Armitage’s The Story of the Iliad is a
dramatic retelling of Homer’s epic and the last days of Troy. It is an
enriching read for its transforming qualities from classic moments to
contemporary wisdoms. It is easy to read, written in play format. I especially
appreciate the insight it gives to the main characters of the Iliad and it’s ability to enliven them
for me. While I still consider Homer’s Iliad
one of the greatest reads and not to be missed, I can recommend Armitage’s book
as an interesting and enjoyable supplement.
Thanks
for visiting, Rose, Julie, Donna, & Rochelle
Length: 112 Pages
