Folio Archives 234: The Siege and Fall of Troy by Robert Graves 2005
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1wcarter
The Siege and Fall of Troy by Robert Graves 2005
There are numerous huge tomes that cover the ten year siege of Troy by the Greeks, the construction of the decoy wooden horse, the capture of the city and the subsequent adventures of those involved (including the wide ranging wanderings of Odysseus). The Folio Society has published several of these including The Greek Myths by Robert Graves (1996), Troy and the Trojans by Carl W.Blegen (2005), Troy and its Remains by Heinrich Schliemann (2015), The World of Odysseus by M.I.Finley (2002) and The Iliad (several editions).
Rather than read a thousand pages of details about abductions, plunder, war, rape, bloodshed, intrigue and jealousy (amongst both gods and men) you can read Robert Graves 103 page simplified condensation that covers all the main points and characters of the classic tale, but leaves out any slightly boring details. There is constant action from one paragraph to the next that leaves the reader almost breathless as champions fight, gods quarrel, women swoon, and pledges are both honoured and betrayed. The book can be easily read in just over an hour, which is more than can be said of any other book on the topic.
In addition to the main text there is a nine page introduction by Lawrence Norfolk, a four page index and eight dramatic (and very different) colour illustrations by Grahame Baker. The endpapers are maps of the Eastern Mediterranean printed dark green on light green (strangely, my back endpaper map is printed upside down).
The book is beautifully three-quarter bound in dark green cloth with a front board printed with a colour picture by Grahame Baker. The 24.4x17.7cm. slipcase is a plain dark green.
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
There are numerous huge tomes that cover the ten year siege of Troy by the Greeks, the construction of the decoy wooden horse, the capture of the city and the subsequent adventures of those involved (including the wide ranging wanderings of Odysseus). The Folio Society has published several of these including The Greek Myths by Robert Graves (1996), Troy and the Trojans by Carl W.Blegen (2005), Troy and its Remains by Heinrich Schliemann (2015), The World of Odysseus by M.I.Finley (2002) and The Iliad (several editions).
Rather than read a thousand pages of details about abductions, plunder, war, rape, bloodshed, intrigue and jealousy (amongst both gods and men) you can read Robert Graves 103 page simplified condensation that covers all the main points and characters of the classic tale, but leaves out any slightly boring details. There is constant action from one paragraph to the next that leaves the reader almost breathless as champions fight, gods quarrel, women swoon, and pledges are both honoured and betrayed. The book can be easily read in just over an hour, which is more than can be said of any other book on the topic.
In addition to the main text there is a nine page introduction by Lawrence Norfolk, a four page index and eight dramatic (and very different) colour illustrations by Grahame Baker. The endpapers are maps of the Eastern Mediterranean printed dark green on light green (strangely, my back endpaper map is printed upside down).
The book is beautifully three-quarter bound in dark green cloth with a front board printed with a colour picture by Grahame Baker. The 24.4x17.7cm. slipcase is a plain dark green.
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
3PartTimeBookAddict
I have just finished reading my FS volume of the Iliad and am 2/3 through the Odyssey. I have this volume and will read it next as a palate cleanser (in a good sense) before moving on to other books.
Thanks for the reminder!
Thanks for the reminder!
4cronshaw
Thanks as ever Warwick for your dedication in producing this ongoing series which must be helpful for so many thousands of Devotees around the world. When I first saw this edition, many years ago now, I disliked the illustrations, but I've since grown fond of them, which tells me how very subjective and unreliable my own judgement can be; or how familiarity can breed contentment!
5ASheppard
Another volume pulled from my shelves, without dislocating my arms, (recent publications seem to have grown much heftier). Thank you, once again, >1 wcarter:. I love the art work and the space given to the text... also the paper - my volume printed on 'gorgeous wove'. I'm beginning to think that those commissioning at Folio make up the paper names.
6BionicJim
>1 wcarter: “Strangely, my back endpaper map is printed upside down.”
Ha ha, maybe someone was trying to be helpful for their customers down under?
Ha ha, maybe someone was trying to be helpful for their customers down under?
