At the Palaces of Knossos

How do you write a "children's" book that will hold readers' interest 50, 100 years from now? James Barrie, Francis Hodgson Burnett, and Terry Pratchett have. So has Nikos Kazantzakis.This book is a gem, and deserves much wider recognition. Mythology is usually presented, even in the much-lauded D'Aulaire series, as little more than a plot line. Here, the familiar story of Theseus and the Minotaur is enriched with well-developed characters. My favorite is Princess Ariadne: as imperious, sensitive, and curious as Elizabeth Tudor in her youth. Kazantzakis describes the splendors of the Minoan city-palace as lushly as one can infer from the historical artifacts that have been unearthed, then he enriches the picture with details of folkways that still exist today in Greece. What raises this book from the merely entertaining to the classic is the author's dedication to his real mission: to impart the great truths of the world to his young readers. In the Palaces of Knossos, we learn a little about the nature of despotism, and how to test the long-term viability of a civilization beyond the veneer of its present power and wealth. Teachers and parents, read this wonderful book, and be awed and entertained yourself before you read it to your kids. While you're at it, bring out a book like BBC's Civilizations by Jane McIntosh and Clint Twist so your charges can see the strange and beautiful paintings from the palace of Knossos of bull-leaping youths, the bronze dagger that Theseus himself might have carried, and one of the odd little iconic statues of the Great Goddess worshipped throughout ancient Crete.

This novel derives from a series of stories written byKazantzakis for a youth's magazine. The novel utilizes Kazantzakis'graceful style to add even more magic to this fantastic myth. In the beginning, a young traveler is found surveying the grounds of the Palace of Knossos, raising suspicions with security guards and catching the eye of the young princess Ariadne. The young traveller turns out to be Theseus, a prince who desires to free his people from the tyranical King. Included is the infamous minotaur and many greek gods. This novel remains interesting and exciting all throughout the story, and can be recommended to any age group. END