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sandman_1961 's review for:
Troy: The Siege of Troy Retold
by Stephen Fry
I look forward to each of Stephen Fry's offerings on the tales and mythology of Greece.
I've a passing knowledge of the Trojan war, but this book drew together many of the disparate bits of knowledge I have accrued over the years.
The book covers the content of the Iliad, and more of the history of the Trojan war.
It's a comprehensive volume. I am glad that the opening included a warning that one didn't need to remember all of the names. There are many of them, most of whom are mentioned only once.
As expected, Stephen Fry's narration is excellent, easy to read and full of fact and humour. The facts also include the footnotes, of which there are many, covering reference to the Iliad, Homer, other sources, and pointing towards other tales previously covered in Mythos and Heroes. The foot notes can become a little distracting, interrupting the flow, but I cannot make a reasonable constructive suggestion as an alternative.
The book is around 400 pages in length, but the 'history' of the siege and sacking of Troy finishes at about page 335. The remainder is an interesting discourse on myth versus reality and the listing of the the relationships of the principal characters. It is obvious that Stephen Fry is passionate about his subject matter.
Overall a great book. Definitely one to be read by anyone with an interest in 'ancient' Greece.
I've a passing knowledge of the Trojan war, but this book drew together many of the disparate bits of knowledge I have accrued over the years.
The book covers the content of the Iliad, and more of the history of the Trojan war.
It's a comprehensive volume. I am glad that the opening included a warning that one didn't need to remember all of the names. There are many of them, most of whom are mentioned only once.
As expected, Stephen Fry's narration is excellent, easy to read and full of fact and humour. The facts also include the footnotes, of which there are many, covering reference to the Iliad, Homer, other sources, and pointing towards other tales previously covered in Mythos and Heroes. The foot notes can become a little distracting, interrupting the flow, but I cannot make a reasonable constructive suggestion as an alternative.
The book is around 400 pages in length, but the 'history' of the siege and sacking of Troy finishes at about page 335. The remainder is an interesting discourse on myth versus reality and the listing of the the relationships of the principal characters. It is obvious that Stephen Fry is passionate about his subject matter.
Overall a great book. Definitely one to be read by anyone with an interest in 'ancient' Greece.