Say what you will about cinematic renditions of historical events, but the movie “Troy" inspired me to learn more about the events surrounding the Trojan War and delve deeper into this amazing story! This book works well if you're looking to read The Iliad but would like a brief introduction as well as pictures of locations, maps, and archaeological evidence. ( )

This was a very informative account, very detailed, but manages not to get too heavy. Worth the read. ( )

When Barry Strauss’ book on the war and the fall of Troy first appeared, I confess that I read the reviews and almost yawned at the thought of yet one more book on Troy. I first read the stories of Troy, Ulysses, Paris, Achilles, et al, in one of those popular juvenile prose versions way back when. Since then I’ve read many other accounts, including Homer’s in both verse and prose. I watched Michael Woods’ great television series on the siege of Troy – and bought his book. I watched all of the big feature movies and some of the various television and cable documentaries. I even had the chance to see the treasure retrieved by the German archaeologist schliemann when it was exhibited in Moscow. So I figured that there was little new that would require me to rush out and buy the latest retelling of this story.

Okay, you heard it here first – I was wrong – very wrong. And I only got the chance to find this out because I picked up a copy of “The Trojan War” while looking for something to read while on the road. After reading this, which I found hard to put down, I am one of Barry Strauss’ biggest fans.

In retelling a familiar tale, Barry Strauss has brought to the subject an interdisciplinary approach that very much matches my own preferred method of study and analysis. He tells the story – but he also talks about the regional and international politics and economics of the day, of the geography, of the military and naval technology, the weaponry, logistics, etc. This resulted in an account that was fresh and informative in so many aspects, yet without being overly pedagogical or academic. “The Trojan War” is an academically thorough and challenging work written and presented for the popular audience. I highly recommend this book to anyone just beginning to be interested in the story of Troy or of Ancient Greece for that matter. ( )

Barry Strauss' account of the Bronze Age history of the Trojan war is delineated in The Trojan War: A New History. He writes a narrative drawing on recent archaeological data that he uses to explain the events at Troy more than 3,000 years ago based on current evidence. Ever since Heinrich Schliemann discovered the "gold of Troy" archaeologists and historians have been expanding our knowledge of this era at the beginning of Western history.
This book puts the events of the age into perspective with insight on the relations between Troy and the Hittite Empire of Anatolia and its impact on the battles between the Achaean's, as the Greeks were known then, and the Trojans. He comments on the story as found in Homer's Iliad, pointing out those aspects of the epic poem that have some basis in that can be connected with the archaeological data. I found the book to be a useful adjunct to my current rereading of Homer's Iliad and would recommend it to anyone interested in ancient history. ( )

Strauss is a fabulous and imaginative writer which really makes the classic, standard story of Troy come alive. I thoroughly enjoyed his Salamis work and this one is up to his same high standard. It relates the latest research but in a compelling narrative. This work is highly recommended and even if you disagree with his conclusions the work is well worth considering. The work is geared for the educated non-specialist reader but I could see this volume as popular for undergraduates as well.

He has a substantive ending section relating the recent work in the field as well.