The Iliad [Hardcover]

Nick McCarty (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2000 | Age Level: 9 and up

Vivid illustrations by noted artist Victor Ambrus brings to life this new retelling of Paris' doomed love for Helen and the years of siege that roiled the ancient city of Troy.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-8-An exciting text in large print and action-packed illustrations create an accessible version of a classic tale. Mixed in with the fast-paced, colloquial language are bits of formalized archaic phrasing that enhance the ancient setting. However, the illustrations, though colorful and well placed on the page, do not always represent the text. For example, though given a "sword hilt to bite on" while Patroclus removes a three-barbed arrow from his leg, Eurypylus is depicted sitting with his jaw clenched-on nothing. McCarty's fresh retelling will especially appeal to readers reluctant to pick up more formal retellings such as Rosemary Sutcliff's Black Ships before Troy (Delacorte, 1993), and who enjoyed Marcia Williams's irreverent comic-strip retellings in The Iliad and the Odyssey (Candlewick, 1996).
Nancy Call, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Aptos, CA
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

School Library Journal

An exciting text in large print and action-packed illustrations create an accessible version of a classic tale.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Kingfisher (September 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0753453304
• ISBN-13: 978-0753453308
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 9.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,311,439 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars All of the Adventure, No Romance, May 24, 2002

By 

"6thgradeteacher" (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Iliad (Hardcover)

I've read four different children's versions of the Iliad. It would be unreasonable to expect any of them to live up to the grandeur of the original. Each author has his/her own spin to the story, created when s/he chooses what aspects of the story to cut and what to retain. Mr. McCarty has chosen the high adventure aspect of Homer's classic. Cassandra is completely missing, as is most of the 'touchy-feely' stuff, but the battle scenes sing with the poetry of the original. It's clear that Mr. McCarty knows the story well, since his language retains the rhythms and imagery found in the Iliad. Read it for the adventure, but keep in mind that you're not getting the whole story.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Homer would have listened to this, November 25, 2005

By 

Jenny Marie "Teacher Reader" (Kalamazoo, MI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Iliad (Paperback)

My family and I spent Thanksgiving this year taking turns reading chapters aloud, and no one was ever ready to stop! Nick McCarty does an excellent job of deciding what parts of the original to trim down (three paragraphs rather than three pages of ships sailing for Troy), and what parts are vital (the squabbles of the gods, Hector's anger at Paris, Agamemnon's foolish decision to keep Chryseis). McCarty also does an excellent job of preserving the poetic feel of Homer's language, without losing meaning:

"The Greeks came with their chariots and bird-swift horses. They came carrying bone-sprung bows, gold-hilted swords, and oxhide shields embossed with flashing bronze. They marched toward Troy, and the earth groaned. The sun burst through, lighting the spear points and plumed helmets of eager warriors and the glistening coats of the horses. It was as if the plain rippled with fire."

Overall, the book is probably best for adults looking for a faster read than Homer's work, or for mature grade-school students. Like the original, some parts are still very gory, but within these descriptions the translation does an excellent job of preserving the foolishness and futility of war. The vocabulary of the book is also advanced. I originally began reading the book to preview it for my fifth grade class but decided that it wouldn't suit the class as a whole, as the language would be beyond all but my strongest readers. I may still use it as a read-aloud, however.

Enjoy your reading!