The Trojan War Download Free (EPUB, PDF)
In this retelling of the Trojan War, Olivia Coolidge crafts heroes and gods into real, multidimensional characters, not just the figures of legend. Vibrant storytelling and finely wrought action have made her version of the classic tale of the Fall of Troy accessible to generations of young readers.
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers (October 29, 2001)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0618154280
ISBN-13: 978-0618154289
Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 0.8 x 8.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #40,467 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #33 in Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Myths & Legends > Greek & Roman #119 in Books > Teens > Literature & Fiction > Classics
This book is an excellent introduction to Homer and the Trojan War stories. It includes all of the key tales from the Trojan War epic cycle, including the judgment of Paris, the death of Achilles, the stories of Ajax (Aias) and Philoctetes, the death of Paris, the fall of Troy, the death of Agamemnon, and the homecoming of Odysseus.Perhaps the most heart-wrenching tale in the collection is the fate of the Trojan women. This story poignantly outlines the horror and anguish that afflict the innocent and unwilling participants of any war.If you are planning to read The Iliad or The Odyssey, then I highly recommend you read this book first. It provides the proper context for Homer, and it familiarize you with all of the major characters.If you HAVE read The Iliad or The Odyssey and are craving more Trojan War stuff, then this book will fill in a lot of gaps and point you to other source materials (Quintus, Sophocles, Euripides, Virgil, etc).A Tale of Troy is oriented toward middle school students, but that in no way diminishes its power or charm for adult readers. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I also recommend "A Tale of Troy" by Roger Greene, and "The Siege and Fall of Troy" by Robert Graves (out of print).
I had to read this book for my English class. As one of the earlier reviews said you can't tell where everything is taking place, you actually can. If you pay close attention to what's happening you can clearly see where everything is taking place. This book does a good job of using the Iliad and the Odyssey and mixing them together into one story. I highly recomend you to read this book.
I just finished reading this book to my son, who is eight. We both enjoyed it immensely and it turned out to be a good introduction to the ancient Greek world for him. It weaves a suprising amount of material into an exciting narrative that retains focus well enough so that we never lost track of where we were. The different personalities came through well, and there was a sufficient amount of action and gore to get his mind off Pokemon temporarily...
Although the story of The Trojan War is masterfully captured in the Iliad and Odyssey, Olivia Coolidge's retelling of the saga could put anyone to sleep. The Trojan War begins at a wedding party. Discord throws the golden apple towards the guests at the party. Inscribed in the apple are the words "For the fairest." The goddesses at the party begin competing for the title of the fairest. Eventually Aphrodite claims the name. She promises Paris of Troy the finest wife. Paris then captures Helen and brings her to Troy. The Greek armies storm after Paris beginning the ten year long war.This book is a classic waste of time because the characters are undeveloped, the prose and discourse are dull, and several scenes leave the reader hanging. The characteristics of many of Olivia Coolidge's characters are not explained thoroughly. There are so many characters, Coolidge does not have time, nor space to develop each of them comprehensively. In fact, the character list at the end of the book attests to this fact. It covers seven entire pages! The author writes in a very primitive form of English. The story lacks the excitement and subtlety of Homer's sagas. The Trojan War could be compared to a tedious textbook. The scenes in the story are written such that they are too complex for young readers and too dreary for adult readers. The lack of detail causes a feeling of anxiety, making the reader think, "What did I miss??"Although I advise many readers to pass by this book, some avid mythology readers may find this book appealing. I would recommend books such as the Odyssey and the Iliad instead of The Trojan War to all interested readers. Olivia Coolidge's retelling of the Trojan War is the rotten apple in a library of golden ones.
I teach this to my 6th grade English students (all boys) and though they find it confusing to begin with, every year they are hooked by the time we get to the second section. It gives a strong introduction to the many Greek stories surrounding the Trojan War. My students from prior years still remember the events of the book.I inherited the text from my predecessor when I took over the job, and was not enthusiastic about the idea of teaching it to begin with. I remembered Greek history and myth as dry and dusty. The writing is a little bland and stilted in spots, but the events it retells are vivid enough in themselves to carry the reader's interest.
I first read this book when I was 9 years old. And it triggered a strong desire to learn all I could about Greek Mythology.Where as most books on the Trojan War concentrate on the origins and the Iliad, this book touched on all the different stories circulating about the Trojan War: The death of the first Greek to land on the shore; the Queen's appearance; Odysseus' feigning madness to try and get out of going to war; Paris' death and his nymph sweetheart who he betrayed; the bow of Hercules; the son of Achilles; the madness of Ajax; and many more stories.I read and re-read this book many times. When I finally discovered that it was available in paperback, I immediately bought it and re-read it again. This book contains so many different stories about the Trojan War, the warriors on both sides, their fate, and the background stories that it is hard to put down. Yes, it was written for elementary children and young adults, but even the adults can get lost in this book.
The Trojan War Ancient Greece: The Legacy of Achilles (Hero of the Trojan War) The Trojan Horse: How the Greeks Won the War (Step into Reading) Inside the Walls of Troy: A Novel of the Women Who Lived the Trojan War Make This Model Trojan Horse (Usborne Cut-Out Models) The Computer Insectiary: A Field Guide to Viruses, Bugs, Worms, Trojan Horses, and Other Stuff That Will Eat Your Programs and Rot Your Brain Caballo de Troya 1. Jerusalén (NE) (Caballo De Troya / Trojan Horse) (Spanish Edition) The Trojan Women and Other Plays (Oxford World's Classics) Six Greek Tragedies: Persians; Prometheus Bound; Women of Trachis; Philoctetes; Trojan Women; Bacchae (Classical Dramatists) Sons of Privilege: The Charleston Light Dragoons in the Civil War (Civil War Sesquicentennial Edition) (Civil War Sesquicentennial Edition (University of South Carolina Press)) Korean Vignettes: Faces of War : 201 Veterans of the Korean War Recall That Forgotten War Their Experiences and Thoughts and Wartime Photographs of That Era Dr. Seuss Goes to War: The World War II Editorial Cartoons of Theodor Seuss Geisel The Songwriter Goes to War: The Story of Irving Berlin's World War II All-Army Production of This Is the Army A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War (Vintage Civil War Library) Civil War Witness: Mathew Brady's Photos Reveal the Horrors of War (Captured History) War in the Pacific (Graphic Modern History: World War II) Famous People of the War of 1812 (Documenting the War of 1812) A History of US: War, Terrible War: 1855-1865 A History of US Book Six The Civil War (True Books: Civil War (Paperback))
