In Search of Troy : One man's quest for Homer's fabled city [Hardcover]

Giovanni Caselli (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: In Search of

This is the story of one man's determined quest to find Homer's fabled city of Troy. In 1873, Heinrich Schliemann discovered the legendary city of Troy. He unearthed temples, palaces, and great stores of treasure, as well as the homes of ordinary people, and discovered much that matched Homer's descriptions. This book chronicles one man's quest and its success. It recreates the everyday life of the Trojan people, and adds color and depth to a reding of Homer's Iliad.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5-These two titles are attractively illustrated and thoughtfully arranged. Each book features the now-standard two-page layout with short "main" text and multiple illustrations with explanatory captions, some of which are almost as long as the central text. Troy moves from Heinrich Schliemann's fascination with Homer, to his determination to find the site of Troy, to its discovery and excavation, and finally to an investigation of life in the ancient city and the Greek legends connected with it. Tutankhamun follows Howard Carter's discovery of the tomb of the "boy-king," as well as the wealth of material found there, and then surveys Tut's life. In texts so short, there are almost bound to be oversimplifications. Troy assumes that the connection between Greek myth and history is more firmly settled than it is, referring, for example, to the treasure, city and palace of King Priam as though there were no doubt of such identifications. Only later are readers told that Priam's existence has not been established. Tut accepts Akhenaten's paternity as a given-though it is not. Even so, the titles are generally solid and are impressively illustrated. The layout for the chapter "Tutankhamun's Tomb" is especially good, depicting the plan of the tomb, a cut-through illustration of the jumbled contents, and a "flattened" sketching of the wall paintings in the burial chamber. While not essential purchases, these offerings will be welcome where more material on ancient history is needed.
Coop Renner, Moreno Elementary School, El Paso, TX
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

A city rose on the banks of the Aegean 5,000 years agoTroy, the very stuff of legend; in this archaeo-history, Caselli targets all the most exciting material. Using a format that features clusters of text and images, often encircling a larger commanding image set on a two-page spread, Caselli sketches the background of Troy by following the work of Heinrich Schliemann, the archaeologist whose team unearthed the city. When the story gets to Priam's Troy, greater detail is added, giving readers a taste of what it was like to live within the city walls and towers, as a commoner or as a king. Under discussion are architecture and social structure; he speculates on the role of the sacred in Trojan life, from Bronze Age idols to Greek statues. Then, with just the right amount of drama, Caselli tells the story of the Trojan War: of Paris's kidnapping of Helen, the ten-year siege, and Laocoon's warning about Greeks bearing gifts, especially big wooden ones in the form of a horse. Caselli separates what is known as fact from what is likely fiction, but not so rudely as to erase the mystery and poetry of the Homeric legend as it hovers over Schliemann's dig. Handsome, beguiling illustrations add to the provocative stew. (diagrams, maps, chronology, index) (Nonfiction. 9-12) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Brighter Child (February 9, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0872265420
• ISBN-13: 978-0872265424
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,188,930 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Sensational, January 15, 2012

By 

M. Heiss (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: In Search of Troy : One man's quest for Homer's fabled city (Hardcover)

We have a child who is extremely interested in Ancient Greece. He built a model of the Trojan Horse Make This Model Trojan Horse (Usborne Cut-Out Models) and a model of the Parthenon. This is a great book on the search for the ruins of Troy, and what was found at the archaeological dig. Does a good job with Heinrich Schliemann. Good historical information, very nice illustrations. This one is a keeper.