I picked up this book for more perspective on The Illiad and The Odyssey after re-reading part of The Odyssey. It was unsatisfying in shedding more light on the history and writing. Indeed, a travel book titled "No Man's Lands" was more helpful.

Though Alexander wrote this book from a number of lectures, it is oddly unfocused.

Indeed, the focus of The Illiad and this book are on Achilles and of prophecies that the hero could remain comfortably at home -- or go to war and his death but have his life live on in legend. This search for honor and lines such as "Why did I raise you? ... since indeed your lifetime is to be short, of no length" show that Achilles was aware of the choice in life to be comfortable but lead an undistinguished life -- or to live the short life of a hero.

Achilles own speech to the Embassy of Greek leaders reads:
"Either, if I stay here and fight beside the city of the Trojans,
my return home is gone, but my glory will be everlasting ..." But Alexander contends that Achilles is unaware of his tragic choice: "Achilles show no awareness of this prophecy, and it would seem to be another feature invented by Homer for this remakable scene ... While Achilles is still enraged with Agamemnon, it is no longer wrath that drives hime homeward, but the determination to live."

This book does clarify some aspects of the Greeks' beliefs about gods and mortals and how mortals can (rarely) become immortal.