Blood and gore, love and revenge, tragedy and triumph. Two armies fight to the death for nine long years, The Iliad is a tale of heroism, cunning and a battle waged in the name of the love - for the beautiful Helen. Can the Greeks overcome the Trojans? When will the gods next interfere and change the fate of the battling mortals? What shrewd trick will the Greeks use to change the fate of the war? Read this brilliant retelling of Homer's classic and find out.
This book features in the following series: Kingfisher, Kingfisher Epics .
There are 176 pages in this book.
It is aimed at Young Adult readers. The term Young Adult (YA) is used for books which have the following characteristics: (1) aimed at ages 12-18 years, US grades 7-12, UK school years 8-15, (2) around 50-75k words long, (3) main character is aged 12-18 years, (4) topics include self-reflection, internal conflict vs external, analyzing life and its meaning, (5) point of view is often in the first person, and (6) swearing, violence, romance and sexuality are allowed.
This book was published in 2003 by Pan Macmillan .
Nick McCarthy is a highly-respected author who writes extensively for television and radio as well as writing books. His retelling of A Tale of Two Cities won the Sony Award for best Adaptation. Victor Ambrus has won the World Wildlife Award and has been twice awarded the Kate Greenaway Gold Medal for the best illustrated children's book of the year. He has illustrated over one hundred books for young people and has written or adapted more than a dozen children's books himself. "Homer" is the name given to the author or authors of the ancient Greek epic poems "Iliad" and "Odyssey", and could represent a single man who lived sometime between 800 and 900 B. C. , or it could represent a group of poets who collaborated on these major works. THANOS TSILIS was born in Athens in 1977, and studied graphic arts, illustration and animation. Most of his work has been in illustration, though in 2002 he also started working for animated films. From 2005 to 2008 he worked for Total Eclipse Games, and since then has worked mostly as a concept artist for advertising and digital entertainment. BEATRICE SAMPATAKOU is one of Greece's best-known retellers of Greek mythology, and has written the stories of the gods and goddesses of her literary tradition for all levels of readers. Her Greek-language versions of the Iliad and Odyssey are the standard versions used in Greek schools. Victor Ambrus is a well-known illustrator of over 300 children's picture books.
This book contains the following story:
The Iliad
The story of the ten year war that preceded Odysseus's long journey home to Ithaca begins with Prince Paris's abduction of Helen of Sparta, and goes on to the quarrel between Agamemnon and Achilles, and the great battles under the walls of Troy towards the end of the siege that result in the deaths of Patroclus, the Trojan hero Hector, and finally Achilles himself.
"The Iliad" is an epic poem attributed to the ancient Greek poet Homer. It primarily focuses on the events of the Trojan War and portrays the wrath of Achilles, a Greek hero, as its central theme. Here is a summary of the plot:
The Trojan War: The story begins in the ninth year of the Trojan War. The Greek army, led by Agamemnon, has been besieging the city of Troy to reclaim Helen, the wife of Menelaus, who was abducted by Paris, a prince of Troy. The poem introduces various gods and goddesses who take sides in the conflict.
The Wrath of Achilles: Achilles, the greatest Greek warrior, becomes embittered when Agamemnon takes his war prize, Briseis. As a result, Achilles withdraws from battle, refusing to fight for the Greeks. His absence allows the Trojans to gain an advantage.
Epic Battles: The poem describes a series of battles and duels between individual heroes on both sides. Notable events include Hector, the greatest Trojan warrior, fighting against Ajax and Diomedes, as well as other heroic encounters.
Divine Intervention: The gods intervene in human affairs, often favoring their respective sides. For example, Athena aids the Greeks, while Apollo supports the Trojans. They influence the outcome of battles and protect their chosen champions.
Achilles' Revenge: The death of Patroclus, Achilles' close friend, prompts him to rejoin the battle. Fueled by grief and rage, he seeks revenge on Hector, vowing to kill him for Patroclus' death. Achilles engages in a fierce duel with Hector and ultimately kills him.
Funeral of Hector: The poem concludes with the funeral of Hector, during which his father, King Priam of Troy, pleads with Achilles for his son's body. Achilles, moved by Priam's grief, allows the Trojans to mourn and bury Hector.
"The Iliad" explores themes of honor, pride, the brutality of war, the intervention of gods in human affairs, and the complexities of human emotions. It is considered one of the greatest works of Western literature and offers insights into ancient Greek culture and values.
