The Iliad - Hardcover

Cross, Gillian

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0763678325 ISBN 13: 9780763678326

Publisher: Candlewick, 2015

Synopsis

A strikingly illustrated retelling of Homer’s classic from the team who brought us The Odyssey—Carnegie Medalist Gillian Cross and illustrator Neil Packer.

After nine years of war between the Greeks and Trojans, tensions are heating up among men of the same faction as well as those on opposing sides. Two proud and powerful Greeks, King Agamemnon and legendary warrior Achilles, quarrel over a beautiful maiden, causing Achilles and his myrmidons to drop out of the fight. Meanwhile, fueled by rage and pride, honor and greed, soldiers on both sides—Odysseus and Patroclus for the Greeks, Paris and Hector for the Trojans—perform heroic deeds, attempting to end the war. Depicting their actions, and those of the gods they invoke, are vivid, stylistic illustrations reminiscent of Greek pottery, giving this large-format volume an extra measure of authenticity and appeal.

About this title

About the Author

Gillian Cross, the Carnegie Medal–winning author of Wolf, wrote a retelling of The Odyssey illustrated by Neil Packer. She lives in England.

Neil Packer is the illustrator of several classic books, including One Hundred Years of Solitude and Gillian Cross’s retelling of The Odyssey. He lives in London.

From School Library Journal

Gr 6–9—Cross presents a fluid and highly readable version of this celebrated tale. The text follows the essential plot structure of the classic work, beginning with Helen's capture and concluding with Hector's demise. The book includes an introduction to the Odyssey (retold by this creative team in 2012) and provides brief historical context of the Bronze Age eastern Mediterranean. A helpful spread groups the characters by their allegiance (Greek or Trojan). Cross conveys the various personalities of the story's many heroes and gods, including jealous Achilles and courageous Hector. The gods weave in and out of the text. Packer's dreamlike illustrations illuminate the stories with bold, solid colors, the stylized figures influenced by poses and perspectives from ancient pottery. Some white-on-black illustrations are particularly striking, exhibiting strong emotion and movement. Images range in size from one-quarter of a page to full spreads. In addition, the illustrations often include the names of characters and places in Greek script, a nice feature also found in ancient art. The text dramatizes the intense battle sequences, but there isn't much blood or gore. Central elements of the story, including death and hardship, are presented in a forthright manner. The content and the imagery are appropriate for readers who need something more serious than sanitized versions but who might be a few years away from more mature-themed retellings, such as Gareth Hinds's The Odyssey (Candlewick, 2010). VERDICT A beautiful, fluid, and action-packed retelling of a timeless classic.—Jeffrey Meyer, Mt. Pleasant Public Library, IA

Edition details

• Publisher: Candlewick
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 0763678325
• ISBN 13: 9780763678326
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 160
• Illustrator: Packer Neil