The War at Troy

I hate to call this a modern-English, novel-style retelling of a classic poem: such a description implies inferiority and hack writing, as if its merely written expressly for those too unintelligent to read the actual poem. "The War at Troy" is far more than this. Rather than an "Iliad for Dummies", this book is a fantastic work of literature in its own right. Excellent writing and a strong sense of narration makes what is, in its original form, an oftentimes convoluted plot with a enormous cast of characters and locations, into a very flowing and beautifully clear tale. Clarke retains the original feel of the story and writes in such a way that it feels simultaneously timeless, yet compelling for modern readers. A highly recommended book, it will make a proud addition to anyone's collection.

Of the four books I've read that summarize the entire Trojan War saga, Lindsay Clarke's "The War at Troy" is the best written and the most detailed. As another reviewer points out, the prose can be a bit clunky at times. But Clarke has gone to great pains to present the key stories of this saga in a manner that is true to their original sources. And at times, he really rises to the occasion. His account of the sacrifice of Iphigeneia at Aulis is gripping and horrifying. And his account of King Priam's secret meeting with Achilles to claim Hector's body almost moved me to tears. It's an amazing scene that is only topped by Homer, himself. Call me a wuss, but this is what literature is all about. If you are curious, but anxious, about reading the Iliad, the Odyssey, or the Aeneid, then try reading this book first. It provides the proper context for the epic poems, and it will familiarize you with all of the key characters and events. Then, by all means, read Homer and Virgil. Nothing has topped them in the last 3000 years. They are challenging, but well worth the effort. I have two small complaints. The first is that that Clarke didn't provide much depth to the stories that come to us from Quintus of Smyrna (see "The War at Troy" ISBN 0760700974). But even then, he touches on most of the key events, and he provides enough detail that the story remains coherent. Secondly, the book ends during the destruction of Troy. Consequently, he omits a number of important events that immediately follow. But I see he has just published a sequel called, "The Return From Troy." I'm sure he covers these events there. Two other titles that cover much of the same ground (and some different ground) are "The Trojan War" by Olivia Coolidge, and "A Tale of Troy" by Roger Greene. They aren't as detailed as Clarke, but they still include excellent summaries of the key Trojan War tales.

Lindsay Clarke transforms Homer's epic and immortal Iliad and related stories into an easier to consume and pleasurable to read literary form in his most recent work, War at Troy. Within this transformation he removes aspects of the Iliad that did not deal specifically with the events leading up to, occurring during, or as a result of the epic conflict. This process has produced a trim, clear, satisfyingly paced, and dramatic version of the personalities and events of the most epic of conflicts. None of this pacing and literary inflection come at the expense of detail, Clarke is meticulous refreshingly intent on delivering not just an entertaining but an accurate version. He succeeds. Within the pages of War at Troy Lindsay Clarke further distills the conflict into a form focusing almost entirely on the human drama. Save for their role as instigators and agitators most of the whims and more importantly the occasional direct action of the deities of the Grecian pantheon, which featured prominently in the Iliad, are removed in favor of focusing on the events of Greeks and Trojans themselves. This ever-so-slight shift of focus delivers a story that is less fairy tale and more history. Most modern readers are unaware that the Trojan War is covered in numerous poems aside from the Iliad many of them difficult to locate and read. Lindsay Clarke has done the work for you; he has correlated this information into one concise, entertaining, and reasonably accurate depiction of the events. His writing is at times insidiously evocative and rises to the occasion of the difficult task of living up to expectations of the one of the greatest epic poems of all time. .

A new telling of the old Helen of Troy saga, with god and warrior heroes. Even if you know the tale this is a great retelling of the ancient classic. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.