Achilles [Paperback]

Mike Chapman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2004

Achilles is the pre-eminent hero in all of Greek history and literature. Immortalized by the legendary poet Homer in The Iliad, he is generally recognized as the greatest warrior of antiquity! He was the strongest, fastest and most handsome of the Achaean warriors who fought at Troy. This novel traces his entire life -- from his dipping in the River Styx as a baby by his mother, Thetis, to his childhood on Mount Pelion and his education by the centaur Chiron! The book tells of his epic battles with Hector, Penthesileia (queen of the Amazons) and Memnon (son of the Dawn), as well as his love affair with Polyxena, sister of Hector. It tells of the death of Achilles and how his legend has survived for over 3,000 years.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mike Chapman spent 40 years as a newspaper journalist and has written 21 books. He is considered America's foremost authority on the sport of wrestling and participated in wrestling, judo and sombo himself. He has studied the legend of Achilles for 40 years. This is his third historical novel. "My goal is to take the readers into a journey through time. Back to the world of the ancient Greeks and experience the warrior phenomena." Chapman visited the site of the ancient battlefields of Troy in 2006, walking over the land where Achilles fought Hector and Memnon. He also visited the hard-to-find tomb of Achilles.

Product Details

• Paperback: 276 pages
• Publisher: Culture House Books; 1st edition (May 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967608058
• ISBN-13: 978-0967608051
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,465,533 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In depth look at the life of the real Achilles, June 22, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Achilles (Paperback)

After watching the recent Troy movie, I was motivated to learn more about the hero of that movie, Achilles. What better way than to read the only historically researched biography available? I searched for books and found many detailing Achilles strictly through the Trojan War, but I could get that from reading the Iliad, which I have. This book details Achilles life from day one until his death. The author does a wonderful job making the fantastical myths that surround his life come to life in reality based observations. It's not a mythological based story, but rather one of a human being who lived 3200 years ago and faced social pressures and world issues. Achilles comes across as a complex human being with his own set of problems to face in a life spent trying to figure out the meaning of life. A very entertaining book that I have already recommended to friends.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a true account of the herioc achilles, March 17, 2005

By 

Jennifer Naiman (Colorado) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Achilles (Paperback)

this book was an easy read and gave you the feeling of what it was like in ancient greece in the time of achilles. the book was not confusing with too many characters and events, but instead kept you turning pages to find out what happened next. it was also nice to finally find a book that was a true account of achilles, rather than a novel that has been "hollywoodized" with inaccurate accounts to make his life seem more interesting. it is important that the youth of today understand the depth of this important time in history and the difference achilles made during his life, and mike chapman gives that to us in this publication for all ages.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping......, August 7, 2005

By 

Mike A. Ramaha (RI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Achilles (Paperback)

I'm a Marine that received orders to report to Newport from California for duty. I figured I could use a book to read on my long drive cross country. My trip was supposed to take six days but instead it took eight. I would find excuses to pull over at rest stops just to continue the novel where I had left off; I had to find out what happened next even though I already knew. The author had a way of taking an old story and making it refreshingly new, exciting, and interesting. I enjoyed the personality and life he gave to Achilles and the heroes who were with him. I give this book two thumbs way up!