description: Homer's epic poem, The Iliad, is one of the greatest adventure stories of all time. Rich with arresting imagery and memorable characters, its powerful metaphors still permeate modern culture. This brilliant retelling offers young readers an exciting introduction to the heroes of ancient Greece while providing the complete story of the battle of Troy. The legendary beauty, Helen, is abducted, leading to a decade-long conflict in which even the gods and goddesses take sides and intervene. This is the Trojan War, where the most valiant heroes of the ancient world are pitted against one another. Here Hector, Ajax, Achilles, and Odysseus meet their most formidable challenges and in some cases, their tragic ends. Rosemary Sutcliff makes such extraordinary stories as those of the Trojan horse, of Aphrodite and the golden apple, and of the fearsome warrior women, the Amazons, accessible to contemporary young people.
title: Black Ships before Troy: The Story of the Iliad
titlecomplete: Black Ships before Troy: The Story of the Iliad
genres: Fiction, Classics, Young Adult, Historical, Childrens, Ancient History, Historical Fiction, Mythology, Fantasy, School
ratings_count: 3717
awards: awardedAt: 725875200000
name: Kate Greenaway Medal
publisher: Angus & Robertson