Black Ships Before Troy

Rating:
Summary: Again and Again
Review: Having been brought up in a strong Classical background I was a little nervous of a "modern children's version" of the Illiad. I shouldn't have worried. I actually bought BLACK SHIPS for an undergraduate that I was tutoring on sources of modern British literature, but my 7 year old daughter took it away before I could get it to the college. I worried at first that Clare might be scared by some of the very dramatic pictures, but she was enthralled with the whole story and kept coming back to it for days afterwards. I should add that my undergrad was also entranced once I finnaly got it to her and felt that it compared very well with the complete translation of the original that we also read. New age? Hardly! This is a scholarly-but-fun-interpretaion of a gem.

Rating:
Summary: Rewarding read-aloud or read-alone book
Review: I am so grateful to have found this excellent version of the Iliad. The heroes, the action and the richness of the story are all maintained in this very accessible version of the classic. The story is broken into chapters that are each a good size for a bedtime read--although my 10 year old son pleaded for "1 more chapter" at the end of each one, and I continued because it is an enjoyable read-aloud. He finally took it himself and read it through. Any good listener who enjoys a rich story - age 7+ - would enjoy this as a read-aloud. Recommended.

Rating:
Summary: We rather liked it.
Review: I read this aloud to my 6 and 10 year olds, and we enjoyed it (as well as Sutcliffe's companion book on the Odyssey). I thought the illustrations were well suited to the text and added interest, and the story held my children's and my interest as well. I would recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Just Beautiful!
Review: No dumbing down here! Just a wonderful version of the Iliad that's respectful to childrens ears and has a beautiful use of language that's an enjoyable read for adults too. I think any child, hearing this story,will certainly be in a hurry to read the full Iliad as soon as they can.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent re-telling of The Iliad for children!
Review: Rosemary Sutcliffe keeps the drama and poetic language of Homer's "The Iliad" alive in this wonderful version. My 6- and 8-year-old children sat glued to their seats as I read this story to them. The causes of the Trojan War (The Golden Apple, Paris and Helen) are explained well, and the ensuing battles are depicted with vivid details. Alan Lee's illustrations are perfect for this story-- they give a clear idea of what is happening without being gory. My children loved this book, as did I. I heartily recommend it for a read-aloud, or even for an adult who hasn't read "The Iliad" by Homer. It's a wonderful introduction.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent re-telling of The Iliad for children!
Review: Rosemary Sutcliffe keeps the drama and poetic language of Homer's "The Iliad" alive in this wonderful version. My 6- and 8-year-old children sat glued to their seats as I read this story to them. The causes of the Trojan War (The Golden Apple, Paris and Helen) are explained well, and the ensuing battles are depicted with vivid details. Alan Lee's illustrations are perfect for this story-- they give a clear idea of what is happening without being gory. My children loved this book, as did I. I heartily recommend it for a read-aloud, or even for an adult who hasn't read "The Iliad" by Homer. It's a wonderful introduction.

Rating:
Summary: Useful to Study the Trojan War
Review: The most famous book about the Trojan War is definitely Homer's "The Iliad". It is very interesting, but not easy to read. And it doesn't describe the Trojan War from beginning to end. This book describes the whole aspects of the war concisely and plainly, from the dispute among three goddesses (Judgement of Paris) to the last part of the war that are not described in "The Iliad" (Achilleus's death, the Trojan Horse and the fall of Troy).

This book is too concise to be exciting and/or touching. But it is a good reference to get a brief knowledge of the Trojan War, especially for a Non-Westerner who is not so familiar with the Greek Myths. And it is useful to prepare for and/or review "The Iliad". If this book interests you, I strongly recommend you to also read "The Iliad" that is much deeper and more fascinating.

Rating:
Summary: A requirement for every child
Review: There are a few children's authors that are simply a must (Diane Stanley, Geraldine McCaughrean, Aliki, etc), and Rosemary Sutcliff is one of them!

The late Ms. Sutcliff has simply written the best version of the Illiad out there for children. Beginning with the wedding of Achilles' parents, the book covers all the major events of the Illiad including; the resulting dispute between the three Goddesses over the Golden apple, the judging by Paris, his departure with Helen, the hiding and finding of Achilles, and on, and on. Beautifully illustrated, every child should have one.