{"product_id":"9781609807429","title":"The Siege and Fall of Troy","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe ancient city of Troy really existed. The Trojan War that figures in Homer's two great epic poems, \u003ci\u003eThe Iliad\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Odyssey\u003c\/i\u003e, really happened. But there is much more to it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e    Leave it to one of the English language's greatest practitioners, Robert Graves, to flesh out the story in a very short book for children, first published in 1962, and out of print for more than three decades. According to Graves, \"English literature, to be properly understood, calls for as close a knowledge of the Trojan War as of the Bible: Helen's beauty, Odysseus's cunning, Hector's noble courage, Achilles's vulnerable heel, Ajax's madness, Agamemnon's murder, have all become proverbial. Yet \u003ci\u003eThe Siege and Fall of Troy\u003c\/i\u003e is perhaps the first modern attempt to make the whole story, from the foundation of Troy to the return of the victorious Greeks, into a single short book for boys and girls.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e    Two-thirds of Graves's account originates with ancient Greek and Latin authors other than Homer, in fact. The ancient city of Troy was sacked sometime early in the 12th century BC; \u003ci\u003eThe Iliad\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Odyssey\u003c\/i\u003e were composed some four or five centuries later. They followed earlier accounts and drew from them. Mostly, the various accounts agree with one another, and since most were originally performed at royal courts, the exploits of the royal-born feature in them all.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e    Graves's style is sleek and to the point. The speech of the protagonists is direct and kids will relate to it. The story is told with verve and clarity. Since this is one of the greatest stories of all time, it doesn't need dressing up. The new Seven Stories edition will be elegantly designed and produced, an heirloom for future generations.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Triangle Square","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47056364667120,"sku":"9781609807429","price":13.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781609807429_p0.jpg?v=1763836909","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781609807429","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}