Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.29 AVERAGE
4.29 AVERAGE
(I copy and paste my review for Audible, so this is for the Audiobook version)
*SPOILER ALERT*
Unlike in "Mythos" and "Heroes", telling the story of the Trojan War involves presenting a host of characters that eventually end up being in the same place and in the same time. I'll have to listen again to the first part to see how effectively Fry weaves the storylines of Paris, Achilles, Helen, and the city of Troy itself; my first impression is that he (perhaps inevitably) succumbs to the Ariostesque device of "but let's leave X here and get back to Y, whom we left..." I'm afraid this might also depend on Audible's odd division of chapters, since you have several short chunks at the beginning and the end, and then two major 4:20:00 parts in the middle, anf it gets harder to see the structure there (hence the four stars). As for the story itself, I was expecting the *whole* Trojan cycle, inclusive of the follow-up sagas of Odysseus, Agamemnon and Aeneas, but maybe I overestimated the extent of the material (and I also wasn't expecting so many backstories); as it is - a story of the city of Troy from the foundation to the fateful night, as per the title, plus the stories of the main characters involved - it's already a sizeable story. All the same, I would have loved to hear a bit less about silly Laomedon and more about the feud between Atreus and Thyestes, a story with massive dramatic potential but which regrettably Fry tells in just a couple of lines. My other point of hesitation is the 2 hours-like part in "Ilium" which is basically a summary, more than a retelling, of that quintessential paradigm of Western (and, arguably, world) literature that is the "Iliad", but I guess that's inevitable: do you set out to write a story of the Trojan cycle only to skip completely such an important part of the Trojan War "because Homer did it best", or do you accept the inevitable and follow Homer sometimes line by line? Fry chooses the latter and I honestly can't blame him, I would find it a difficult choice regardless. Where I think he shines, though, much like he did in his two previous books, is when he patches together (rhapsode-like :D ) all the other previous and following threads of narrative that are *not* part of the "Iliad": this is a praiseworthy achievement because even as a scholar myself it's sometimes hard to piece together a consistent narrative of all the events narrated in this book, and every now and then it's just pleasing to just listen to a good narrator who did the hard work for you! The performance is as usual wonderful: if you don't like Fry's voices and theatricality, you'll probably find it annoying but if it's your jam, then don't wait any further! All over the story he also intersperses comments on the modern relevance of myth and how we can read and understand Greek myth today, and as usual he also lets his doctrine and his humanity shine through. I recommend it.
*SPOILER ALERT*
Unlike in "Mythos" and "Heroes", telling the story of the Trojan War involves presenting a host of characters that eventually end up being in the same place and in the same time. I'll have to listen again to the first part to see how effectively Fry weaves the storylines of Paris, Achilles, Helen, and the city of Troy itself; my first impression is that he (perhaps inevitably) succumbs to the Ariostesque device of "but let's leave X here and get back to Y, whom we left..." I'm afraid this might also depend on Audible's odd division of chapters, since you have several short chunks at the beginning and the end, and then two major 4:20:00 parts in the middle, anf it gets harder to see the structure there (hence the four stars). As for the story itself, I was expecting the *whole* Trojan cycle, inclusive of the follow-up sagas of Odysseus, Agamemnon and Aeneas, but maybe I overestimated the extent of the material (and I also wasn't expecting so many backstories); as it is - a story of the city of Troy from the foundation to the fateful night, as per the title, plus the stories of the main characters involved - it's already a sizeable story. All the same, I would have loved to hear a bit less about silly Laomedon and more about the feud between Atreus and Thyestes, a story with massive dramatic potential but which regrettably Fry tells in just a couple of lines. My other point of hesitation is the 2 hours-like part in "Ilium" which is basically a summary, more than a retelling, of that quintessential paradigm of Western (and, arguably, world) literature that is the "Iliad", but I guess that's inevitable: do you set out to write a story of the Trojan cycle only to skip completely such an important part of the Trojan War "because Homer did it best", or do you accept the inevitable and follow Homer sometimes line by line? Fry chooses the latter and I honestly can't blame him, I would find it a difficult choice regardless. Where I think he shines, though, much like he did in his two previous books, is when he patches together (rhapsode-like :D ) all the other previous and following threads of narrative that are *not* part of the "Iliad": this is a praiseworthy achievement because even as a scholar myself it's sometimes hard to piece together a consistent narrative of all the events narrated in this book, and every now and then it's just pleasing to just listen to a good narrator who did the hard work for you! The performance is as usual wonderful: if you don't like Fry's voices and theatricality, you'll probably find it annoying but if it's your jam, then don't wait any further! All over the story he also intersperses comments on the modern relevance of myth and how we can read and understand Greek myth today, and as usual he also lets his doctrine and his humanity shine through. I recommend it.
adventurous
funny
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
funny
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
all i want is to go back in time and see what is myth and what is actual history. fuck the greeks forever tho but also the trojans. lowkey ig just fuck men (except priam who i do love)
adventurous
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
A masterful retelling of this epic tale. I recommend the audiobook in particular—Fry’s narration brings it to life in spectacular fashion.
Fry's 'Great Mythology' series really is the gift that keeps on giving. When I read Mythos I was a bit like "what about Hercules and Jason and stuff, oh there is going to be another book" When I read Heroes I was like "What about Troy, OH"
This time around I was ready for Troy to finish up before Odyssey (but what I am going to do afterwards? Is there more Greek Myth or will Fry move over to Roman Classics, possibly Norse [although Gaiman already did that but a very different style])
Anywho Troy is written in Fry's brilliant style, detailed but accessible its an enjoyable read, while still being informative and somehow also waxing philosophical about both the events depicted, the cross-over of supernatural events and who/what/how the story was written.
I don't know if this was a long term plan but I would love to see a docu-series narrated by Fry on Greek Mythology!
Can't wait for Odyssey, its one of my Favourite Myths (mostly due to the 1997 mini-series)
This time around I was ready for Troy to finish up before Odyssey (but what I am going to do afterwards? Is there more Greek Myth or will Fry move over to Roman Classics, possibly Norse [although Gaiman already did that but a very different style])
Anywho Troy is written in Fry's brilliant style, detailed but accessible its an enjoyable read, while still being informative and somehow also waxing philosophical about both the events depicted, the cross-over of supernatural events and who/what/how the story was written.
I don't know if this was a long term plan but I would love to see a docu-series narrated by Fry on Greek Mythology!
Can't wait for Odyssey, its one of my Favourite Myths (mostly due to the 1997 mini-series)
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes