**spoiler alert** Seamus Heaney has done it again. This is a wonderful reworking of Sophocles' Philoctetes making it punchy and accessible.
It tells t**spoiler alert** Seamus Heaney has done it again. This is a wonderful reworking of Sophocles' Philoctetes making it punchy and accessible.
It tells the story of Achilles' son Neoptolemus sent by Odysseus to get Hercules' bow from Philoctetes whom they had abandoned at the beginning of the Trojan war when he was bitten by a snake and his leg became infected.
Festering on both the inside and the outside poor Philoctetes is set to be betrayed yet again by Odysseus when he learns that Neoptolemus is not there by chance.
This is Greek tragedy without the tragedy. It actually has a surprisingly uplifting ending, and no death at all. Its particularly good for a character study of Odysseus. We've seen his heroism in the odyssey. Here the pragmatist is at the fore and he's more than willing to lie, cheat and abandon a wounded crew member to get the job done.
I also really like the chorus in this and there's a marvellous section at the beginning defining what the Greek chorus' purpose is: - a part of the story, a part of the audience and the link between gods and man. Anyone writing an essay on the function of the Greek Chorus need look no further.
The themes of betrayal, morality and forgiveness here are as relevant today as they were in the Ancient world and Heaney's poetic and modern dialogue only helps to enhance that.
Seamus Heaney's modern reworking of Sophocles' Antigonie is beautifully done. It makes the text accessible and poignant and shows off his skill at lanSeamus Heaney's modern reworking of Sophocles' Antigonie is beautifully done. It makes the text accessible and poignant and shows off his skill at language - the sunlight adazzle on the gulf, birds skirling overhead - classic Heaney choosing evocative words with such care.
As well as the rich language this also highlights the contemporary themes making this timeless - the fallibility and arrogance of government, man vs. woman, man vs. the state, the state vs. the gods. Mortal morality vs. something higher...
Classics fans are not going to want to miss this....more
This graphic novel version of Jason and the Argonauts isn't half bad. The artwork isn't my favourite but there are some particularly nice sequences suThis graphic novel version of Jason and the Argonauts isn't half bad. The artwork isn't my favourite but there are some particularly nice sequences such as Eros shooting his arrow of love at Medea and the zombie army.
The sex and violence is a little sanitised - Medea simply stabs her brother Apsyrtus - we don't see him chopped up into little pieces. Similarly we don't see her slitting her children's throats, they die in a fire. There is one head being lopped off in a battle sequence, but I do feel that this has been watered down. The sexier scenes with the Lemnean women, water nymphs and of course Medea herself are also glossed over.
Some of the adventures are missed out, I guess due to length - I was particularly sad not to see the attack of the Stymphalian birds.
It is however an excellent introduction to the Jason myth and does include the tragic fate of him and Medea. After watching the Harryhausen movie this is a very good next step before tackling the actual Argonautica.
Stories from Shahnameh (The Persian book of kings) retold by Elizabeth Laird and illustrated by Shirin Adl.
While I dislike the childish style of the aStories from Shahnameh (The Persian book of kings) retold by Elizabeth Laird and illustrated by Shirin Adl.
While I dislike the childish style of the artwork, it has a certain charm and the vibrant colours make it appealing. The stories are exciting and easy to read with little codas of rhyming verse which add to the epic nature of the stories.
I loved in particular Zahhak and the loathsome snakes - where demon lord Ahriman puts his claws into the king Zahhak and two snakes sprout from the wounds demanding victims to drain.
Lovely to see Iranian mythology so accessible. A worthy addition to any folklore section....more
This is a rather nice edition of Sappho: the fragments are laid out clearly in section by theme; love, desire, despair, marriage, mother and daughter,This is a rather nice edition of Sappho: the fragments are laid out clearly in section by theme; love, desire, despair, marriage, mother and daughter, the goddess of love, religion, poetry and the muses, nature and wisdom and there are simple b/w illustrations.
Its really easy to navigate, has a useful introduction, translation notes, chronology and short bibliography....more
This is a cracking version of Homer's Odyssey, replacing densely translated, turgid prose with punchy poetic dialogue in a way that only Simon ArmitagThis is a cracking version of Homer's Odyssey, replacing densely translated, turgid prose with punchy poetic dialogue in a way that only Simon Armitage can.
Fast paced and exciting this reminded me of all the reasons I loved the Odyssey in the first place. Having the whole thing in dialogue gives it a real sense of immediacy and the ease of language makes it very accessible and a great way to introduce new readers to the wonder of Homer.
If I'm to be critical - sometimes its a little too fast. Scene changes are abrupt and some scenes are glossed over - The Lotus Eaters and cannibals get a mere blink whilst other episodes get far more detail. Also gone is the repetition and wonderful Homeric epithets such as the wine dark sea and gleaming eyed goddess - this takes away some of the magic somehow and makes it more down to earth.
Saying that Armitage has done a stunning job with this and it stands up proudly to things like Heaney's Beowulf, Hughes' Tales from Ovid and of course Armitage's other works, particularly Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Last Days of Troy.
Titus Andronicus has always posed a problem to critics - the gore level is too high to be taken seriously: we have 15 deaths, one rape, 3 severed handTitus Andronicus has always posed a problem to critics - the gore level is too high to be taken seriously: we have 15 deaths, one rape, 3 severed hands, two severed heads, one severed tongue, cannibalism, interracial adultery. The revenge plot too is almost a parody - but that's the thing, I think Shakespeare was being ironic, read this as a black comedy or parody of the revenge tragedy genre and this is a subtle work of genius.
The language isn't nearly as rich as later Shakespeare plays, but I find it kind of punchy and to the point. This is very much a play made for performance. I think after the recent controversial Globe production, Titus is finally coming into its own. It definitely strikes a chord with the modern youth of today reared on gore films and violent computer games - Oh look Shakespeare did it first 500 years ago. There's also an excellent experimental film version from 1999 with Anthony Hopkins in the title role, which remains true to the text whilst giving some very inventive staging.
The New Cambridge version is my favourite copy, the text is clearly laid out with gloss notes at the bottom of each page (rather than have to keep flicking to the back) - there's lost of extra material about the origins/differences of the manuscripts, textual analysis as well as history of stage versions including lots of photos and illustrations.
What this one doesn't have, which other Cambridge Shakespeare titles do, is exploration of theme, imagery and character. This is very much a drama student's POV, rather than an English Literature student. Saying that the text has plenty of room for annotation - Great for Undergraduate level study, but GCSE and A-Level might need a little more.
Titus remains one of my favourite Shakespeare titles, as a Classics Student horror fan its a dream come true. Romans, Goths, plenty of gore and a goodly level of black humour. Love it.
The second book in the Percy Jackson saga hums along merrily enough but didn't blow me away as much as the first one, perhaps because it is less origiThe second book in the Percy Jackson saga hums along merrily enough but didn't blow me away as much as the first one, perhaps because it is less original.
Percy - the teen soon of Poseidon and a mortal goes on a quest through the sea of monsters to find the golden fleece, rescue his satyr friend Grover who's in a pickle with Polyphemus and clear the name of camp half blood centaur Chiron.
Mythology-wise we're treading in Odyssey territory - Laistrygonians, Scylla & Charybdis, Circe, Polyphemus, the sirens, are all here and very much how they are in the Odyssey with only the tiniest amount of modern upgrading. We also get the golden fleece, Stymphalian birds, and fire bull from the Jason and the Argonauts story.
While I like the overarcing series plot about the resurrection of Kronos and the possible overthrow of Olympus bubbling under the surface. I was disappointed with the sea of monsters story. Yes its fast paced and exciting but for anyone that knows their Odyssey inside out and back to front like I do this is extremely predictable and dare I say... unimaginative. Also reintroducing Luke as a villain - oooooh big surprise! (not!)
I do like the introduction of Percy's Cyclops half brother Tyson. Its great to see a good Cyclops for once. I also liked the comedy of Polyphemus being tricked into thinking Grover was a female Cyclops - but overall felt this one was a bit of a let down after the far more original lightening thief. Still this is an excellent way to start kids into Greek mythology.
The Epic of Gilgamesh remains one of my all time favourite texts. Every time I read it I find something new and amazing.
Its the world's oldest piece The Epic of Gilgamesh remains one of my all time favourite texts. Every time I read it I find something new and amazing.
Its the world's oldest piece of fiction and has five stories centred around the mytho-historical Summerian king Gilgamesh. The most interesting of the tales is probably the flood which predates that of Genesis by about 1,000 years and yet has marked similarities.
Its also a wonderful source for stories featuring the Babylonian pantheon. The scene where Gilgamesh rejects Ishtar is priceless.
You can argue this is the first gay romance. When the gods create a companion for Gilgamesh, its not a woman but a man - Enkidu is Gilgamesh's equal in every sense "like him as his own reflection, his second self, stormy heart for stormy heart." - they go adventuring hand in hand and his dreams tell him that he "will love him like a woman and he will never forsake [him]" - His grief over Enkidu's death rivals that of Alexander the great over Hephaestion - there's a beautiful poetic eulogy and at a loss he then goes off on a quest for immortality.
This story has everything, adventure, tragedy, friendship, philosophy. Its just a shame that we only have fragments, still what we have is wonderful and a must read for anyone interested in myth and history. ...more
This is the definitive book on Alexander the Great artefacts I've come across. It collects together everything shown in the Hermitage exhibition from This is the definitive book on Alexander the Great artefacts I've come across. It collects together everything shown in the Hermitage exhibition from 2010 but it is far more than a catalogue. There are some superb articles in this, from a chapter on Alexander's image depicted with two horns to Iskander in Islamic art.
I can't extol the virtues of this tome enough. It's indispensable for Alexander fans, having images and descriptions of things worldwide you're likely not going to get the chance to see again. There are quite a few Scythian pieces which its nice to see all together.
The one criticism of the book is its lack of index - this is laid out like the exhibition, but its frustrating when you are looking for something specific. I find myself having to thumb through the whole thing when looking for a specific item - that's not too much of a hardship as you get to revisit lots of things you'd forgotten, but it is an annoyance....more
Comic biography of Alexander the Great, with an emphasis on his homosexuality, but still reasonably historically accurate.
This never fails to amuse meComic biography of Alexander the Great, with an emphasis on his homosexuality, but still reasonably historically accurate.
This never fails to amuse me, its a light read in the vein of '1066 and all that' that is a very good overview of the subject, but still remains hilariously funny.
**spoiler alert** This is the first story of Demon Quest Paul Margs second 5 linked story series featuring Tom Baker and Mrs. Wibbsey.
Mrs Wibbsey take**spoiler alert** This is the first story of Demon Quest Paul Margs second 5 linked story series featuring Tom Baker and Mrs. Wibbsey.
Mrs Wibbsey takes a load of the Doctor's junk to a jumble sale and accidentally swaps some vital TARDIS parts for some random objects, one being the tile of a Roman Mosaic that when complete has the Doctor's face, even though he's never been to first century Roman Britain. There's also a page from a history book mentioning a prophetess called Wibbsensia...
They take the TARDIS to Roman Britain and the local Celts think he's a druid and Wibbsey a prophetess. They ask him to help them defeat their enemy who also has a druid helping them - And when the Doctor meets him, it is none other than an AWOL Roman Emperor Claudius... or is he?
Not a bad story, I do so love the Doctor's forays into the Ancient World (This makes a nice companion piece to "The Romans" "Wrath of the Icini" and "The Myth Makers") - this one's fully engaging: Baker is on top form and Susan Jameson's great as Wibbsey. Being only an hour it is, however, rather brief and never resolves anything which is frustrating. I guess with the Mosaic I was hoping for something like "The Face of Evil" - so the fact that it's all a hoax to lure the Doctor there feels terribly anti-climatic.
The story isn't nearly as dark or inventive as some of Magrs other works and indeed verges into comedy in places, making the tone a bit uneven. Still, Mrs. Wibbsey is lots of fun and I must confess I love the Doctor using Mike Yates voice on the answerphone as a ruse. This one is well worth a listen, although its not the greatest as a stand alone story so I'm very much looking to the subsequent instalments for answers....more
Having enjoyed the Percy Jackson films I decided it was high time to start on the books.
The lightening thief is a rip-roaring adventure about the halfHaving enjoyed the Percy Jackson films I decided it was high time to start on the books.
The lightening thief is a rip-roaring adventure about the half-human son of Poseidon trying to prove himself and prevent war between the gods after Zeus' lightening bolt gets stolen.
Its fast paced, exciting with all the characters we love from Greek mythology given a new twist - what's not to like? You've also got all the metaphors going on, about a boy abandoned by his father coming into his own and becoming accepted etc etc..
The story in the book is VERY different to the film particularly towards the end. Ares and Clarisse don't feature in the movie which considering they are major players in the book is odd. The quests are also different - mere incidental adventures in the book and actually mini quests in the movie. I was disappointed that the tunnel of love scene and the waterbed episode weren't in the movie either - It is very streamlined. In a way I'm glad I saw the movie first, If I'd have read the book first I think I'd be absolutely furious with the liberties Hollywood took!
Rant over. The book is meandering and complex we end up with two main villains, which kept me guessing, but was perhaps a little too much.
I'm also not convinced by the ages of the characters. Percy is 12 going on 16. I felt that the characters were too young for the level of maturity they show in their actions.
Despite those niggles I didn't actually care that much. Being a Classics obsessed fan girl I was delighted with a fast moving adventure featuring Greek Mythology and getting the myths right and the characters true to type and yet subtly original. ...more
**spoiler alert** The story itself isn't half bad. We have a vampire and his sex changing demon apprentice teaming up with a human cop to stop a rogue**spoiler alert** The story itself isn't half bad. We have a vampire and his sex changing demon apprentice teaming up with a human cop to stop a rogue vampire serial killer. Decent enough characters, trashy m/m romance between the two leads and a solid, if predictable story.
Mark Julian, our protagonist was a cousin of the Emperor Augusts, turned in 1st Century Rome. The killer turns out to be Hadrian's lover Antonius created during a very unwise affair with our hero. This bit gets a huge thumbs up from me. I have a real weakness for Vampires in Ancient Rome and despite this books numerous flaws, the history side of things is reasonably accurate.
The problem with this is the writing and the editing, which are appalling. I leave great doubt that this has even seen an editor. I ended up sitting there with a pencil. in 154 pages I hound over 80 glaring mistakes and by this I don't mean missing commas, I mean missing words, spelling mistakes, incorrect words used, random apostrophes and speech marks inserted for no reason, chunks of sentences missing.... And I was reading this late at night when I was tired too! I can say with all honesty I've seen unedited fan-fiction on the net with better grammar.
It's not just the editing however. The book is poorly written as well. The prose is very clunky, we get a lot of words repeated in very close proximity and excessive use of characters first names - sometimes three or four times in the same sentence, when a simple he would have sufficed. The tone is also very slangy and uses some of my pet hates like the term "gotten".
This is the first book in the series and I'd be interested to see how the characters progress but I don't know if I can face such poor writing again and certainly wouldn't pay money for it! Such a shame because the story itself is rather fun. Jamie the sex swapping incubus was great and I liked the little bonus story featuring him at the end.
The romance was a bit unconvincing, but I liked the characters and I was rooting for them despite the poor writing. ...more
Despite being a Classics junkie, I do tend to struggle a bit with the Aeneid as a work of fiction. It's Virgil's homage to Homer's Iliad and Odyssey wDespite being a Classics junkie, I do tend to struggle a bit with the Aeneid as a work of fiction. It's Virgil's homage to Homer's Iliad and Odyssey with social and political themes of 1st Century Rome underpinning it all.
I'm not particularly fond of the story or the characters. Aeneas is a whiny un-heroic hero who treats Dido abominably. He has neither the valour of Achilles nor the personality and wit of Odysseus.
The first half of the story deals with Aeneas' return from Troy and his tragic affair with Dido and the second half is his battle with Turnus, rival for Lavinia's hand, laying the foundations for what will become Rome. Although the gods feature it doesn't have the same fantastical elements of Homer and is less exciting.
So, as a story this is turgid, dull and unsatisfying, but as a piece of political propaganda its fascinating. On the surface it's all pro Augustus and the glory of Rome, but because the story is unsatisfying as a reader you begin to question, is Virgil actually being subversive and cunningly lacing criticism in amongst the propaganda?
Classics Scholars cannot afford to miss this, but for general readers, I'd start with some of the other Ancient Epics first and then build up to this....more
As a child the Odyssey was the book I checked out of the library more than any other. All the other kids were picking up meg and mog and there was me As a child the Odyssey was the book I checked out of the library more than any other. All the other kids were picking up meg and mog and there was me we the Odyssey. Decades on and the story still fascinates. This is the granddaddy of fantastic fiction. It has everything, action (the bow contest is worthy of the greatest swashbuckler) adventure, romance, myth and fantastic travellers tales. Episodes include: the Cyclops, the lotus eaters, Circe turning the sailors into pigs, Scylla and Charybdis, the sirens...
I like the fact that Odysseus relies on his cunning and wits rather than brawn like the other Trojan heroes. It's also interesting from a narrative perspective - beginning in the middle of the action and looping back, rather than a straightforward linear adventure. The Odyssey brings to life the characters of Greek myth in a way that for me nothing else ever has. ...more
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