Troy: The Myth and Reality Behind the Epic Legend. This item is unavailable.Troy: The Myth and Reality Behind the Epic Legend

- A high profile movie is currently in production based on the Trojan War myth and Homer's epic The Illiad. Directed by Wolfgang Petersen, Troy's star-studded cast includes, Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom and Sean Bean. Troy is due to be release in May 2004- A miniseries directed by John Kent Harrison called Helen of Troy was screened on April 21, 2003 in America. Its primary focus is the relationship between the mythical characters Helen and Paris

Grade 9 Up—McCarty covers the story of Helen's removal to the city and the ensuing 10 years' war. After introducing the world of Homer, the author alternates the war story with that of Heinrich Schliemann's quest to excavate the real Troy in the 1870s, but the clumsy telling of the fictionalized siege clashes with the more moderate account of Schliemann's heavy-handed, amateur excavations. Readers will enjoy the background information on the gods, goddesses, warriors, and prophets, and the description of the modern area. Black-and-white and color photographs and reproductions depicting art and excavation sites complement the text. The book's value lies in its comparison of the humanlike characteristics of mythic figures with the hubris of Schliemann. Still, the uneven presentation makes this strictly an additional purchase. King Arthur connects the strands of legend in a fascinating history of the evolution of a Celtic demigod to a hero of Christianized medieval romances. Each chapter covers an element of the legend (the early Anglo-Saxon histories where Arthur is first mentioned; the tales of a second Arthur from Celtic legend; and the establishment of various characters), explaining both its historical and archetypal significance. Reproductions of paintings, textiles, and illuminations will appeal to readers. The only weak spot is the overview of modern adaptations, parts of which may become quickly outdated; several popular series are also left out. Still, this is a fine introduction, although some readers may find the heavy use of period names difficult.—Rebecca Donnelly, Loma Colorado Public Library, Rio Rancho, NM
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