"Spectacular and constantly surprising." -Ken Burns Written with the authority of a scholar and the vigor of a bestselling narrative historian, The War That Killed Achilles is a superb and utterly timely presentation of one of the timeless stories of Western civilization. As she did in The Endurance and The Bounty, New York Times bestselling author Caroline Alexander has taken apart a narrative we think we know and put it back together in a way that lets us see its true power. In the process, she reveals the intended theme of Homer's masterwork-the tragic lessons of war and its enduring devastation.
Achilles was a legendary warrior of ancient Greece. When Paris, the Trojan prince, kidnapped the beautiful Helen, the Greek armies joined together under the great king Agamemnon to bring her back. The Achaean Greeks would fight the Trojans for 10 years. This is a classic Greek myth featuring bravery, adventure, and amazing feats of strength, cleverness, and courage.
ACHILLES: A LOVE STORYA Gay Novel of the Trojan War The heroic tale of the passion of Achilles, unrivalled hero and the most beautiful man in the world, for the handsome and heroic Patroclus, as it unfolds in Homer's Iliad, is the one of the greatest and earliest gay love stories ever told. But Homer also hints at another love story that complicates the tale: that of the handsome Prince Antilochus who comes to the battlefield of Troy to find Achilles, the man he has always loved. When the tragic death of Patroclus leaves Achilles shattered and alone, it is Antilochus who is at his side, as friend, companion in battle, and lover. "Achilles: A Love Story," written in the tradition of Mary Renault's "The Persian Boy" and "Fire From Heaven," Yourcenar's "Memoirs of Hadrian," and Vidal's "Julian," is the first modern novel (published: 2010) to re-imagine the "Iliad" as what ancient readers knew it to be: not only a tale of battles and exemplary heroism, but a passionate story of love between men. "Achilles: A Love Story" creates the passionate tale of Antilochus and Achilles as it plays out against the legendary battles of the Trojan war in an exciting and moving story told by no other writer. (Revised Edition: February 2012) COMMENTS Much More Than I Expected (H. Michael Starr Amazon Verified Purchase.) The title of this book...suggested a quickie gay romance novel....What I got instead was a beautifully written retelling of a beautiful story, the Iliad, from a homoerotic perspective. Unexpected, (By Anna - Amazon Verified Purchase) I totally did not expected this....it was beautiful! ...and it grips the reader. I could not stop reading. Highly recommended (Gerry A. Burnie "Gerry B's Book Reviews" Amazon Verified Purchase. "Achilles: A love story" is an unapologetic celebration of male love and valour.
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This classic novel of the closing days of the Trojan War is being published to coincide with the Signet Classic conversion of The Odssey. This translation has been praised by the Times Literary Supplement and the New York Times Book Review.
WINNER OF THE ORANGE PRIZE FOR FICTION 2012 Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the court of King Peleus and his perfect son Achilles. Despite their differences, Achilles befriends the shamed prince, and as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine, their bond blossoms into something deeper - despite the displeasure of Achilles's mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess. But when word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, Achilles must go to war in distant Troy and fulfill his destiny. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus goes with him, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they hold dear.
Based on the latest archeological research and written by a leading expert on ancient military history, the true story of the most famous battle in history is every bit as compelling as Homer's epic account, and confirms many of its details.
Achilles’ death—by an arrow shot through the vulnerable heel of the otherwise invincible mythic hero—was as well known in antiquity as the rest of the history of the Trojan War. However, this important event was not described directly in either of the great Homeric epics, the Iliad or the Odyssey. Noted classics scholar Jonathan S. Burgess traces the story of Achilles as represented in other ancient sources in order to offer a deeper understanding of the death and afterlife of the celebrated Greek warrior. Through close readings of additional literary sources and analysis of ancient artwork, such as vase paintings, Burgess uncovers rich accounts of Achilles’ death as well as alternative versions of his afterlife. Taking a neoanalytical approach, Burgess is able to trace the influence of these parallel cultural sources on Homer’s composition of the Iliad. With his keen, original analysis of hitherto untapped literary, iconographical, and archaeological sources, Burgess adds greatly to our understanding of this archetypal mythic hero.
