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War that Killed Achilles, The - The True Story of Homer's Iliad and the Trojan War

By: Viking Press

Type: Novel - Hardcover

Product Line: Historical Books (Viking Press)


Product Info

Title
War that Killed Achilles, The - The True Story of Homer's Iliad and the Trojan War
Publisher
Category
Author
Caroline Alexander
Publish Year
2009
Pages
320
Dimensions
6.25x9.25x1"
NKG Part #
2148107187
Type
Novel - Hardcover

Description

A groundbreaking reading of the Iliad that restores Homer's vision of the tragedy of war, by the bestselling author of The Bounty

Few warriors, in life or literature, have challenged their commanding officer and the rationale of the war they fought as fiercely as did Homer's hero Achilles. Today, the Iliad is celebrated as one of the greatest works in literature, the epic of all epics; many have forgotten that the subject of this ancient poem was war-not merely the poetical romance of the war at Troy, but war, in all its enduring devastation.

Using the legend of the Trojan war, the Iliad addresses the central questions defining the war experience of every age: Is a warrior ever justified in standing up against his commander? Must he sacrifice his life for someone else's cause? Giving his life for his country, does a man betray his family? How is a catastrophic war ever allowed to start-and why, if all parties wish it over, can it not be ended?