one Of The Greatest Legends In World Mythology Comes To Life In This Retelling Of The Adventures Of Odysseus After The Fall Of Troy. Cunning And Wise, Odysseus Is The Son And Successor Of King Laertes Of Ithaca, And Led The Greek Army During The Trojan War. Author Geraldine Mccaughrean's Taut Prose Brings A Modern, Thriller-like Immediacy To The Ancient Story While Still Retaining The Characters, Details, And Even Some Of The Rhythms Of The Epic Poem. This Superb Retelling Includes All The Great Adventures Of Odysseus, Including His Encounters With The Evil Cyclops, The Monsters Scylla And Charybdis, The Beautiful Sorceress Circe, And The Vengeful God Of The Sea And Protector Of All Waters, Poseidon. Filled With Excitement, Romance, And The Timeless Power Of Myth, odysseus Makes A Perfect Companion For Young Readers Interested In Learning More About The Greek Heroes.
in This First In A Planned Four-volume Heroes Series, Mccaughrean (stop The Train!) Offers A Vivid And Accessible Retelling Of The Ithacan King's Long, Strange Trip Home After His Victory At Troy. Readers Unfamiliar With Homer's The Odyssey Will Likely Feel Comfortable With This Prose Version, A Straightforward Account That Hits The Legendary Highlights. The Author Does Not Shy Away From A Fair Number Of Appropriately Gory Scenes, As When Cyclops Nibbled [odysseus's] Men Like Skewered Lamb, Or When Odysseus, Rather Than Eat The Sun God's Cattle, Roasts His Pet Bird To Feed His Crew. The Hero's Succumbing To Other Urges Occurs Off-stage, As When The Goddess Circe Leads Him To Her White And Silver Bed. Readers Will Get A Good Sense Of The Peril Involved In Offending Poseidon And Learn The Importance Of Stopping To Ask For Directions (odysseus Detours To Hades For His). The Narrative's Rhythm Evokes Not Only The Original Epic But The Ceaseless Movement Of The World-encircled Sea, As When Queen Penelope Looks Out The Window Toward The Water And Sees Only The Waves, Arriving, Always Arriving, Always Beaching On The Shores Of Ithaca. Readers Will Eagerly Anticipate Perseus, Scheduled To Arrive In Spring 2005. Ages 9-14. (nov.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.