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The Iliad and the Odyssey for boys and girls (Illustrated): Easy to Read Layout
"ONCE upon a time there was a certain King of Sparta who had a most beautiful daughter, Helen by name. There was not a prince in Greece but wished to marry her. The King said to "Now you must all swear that you will be good friends with the man whom my daughter shall choose for her husband, and that if any one is wicked enough to steal her away from him, you will help him get her back." And this they did."
Alfred J. Church dedicated his life to popularize the classics for young people. His translation of Homer's classic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey, is done beautifully in his book while using the same meaning, intonation, and rhythm as when Homer originally composed the poems.
The book is fully illustrated (in black and white) by John Flaxman.
Alfred J. Church dedicated his life to popularize the classics for young people. His translation of Homer's classic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey, is done beautifully in his book while using the same meaning, intonation, and rhythm as when Homer originally composed the poems.
The book is fully illustrated (in black and white) by John Flaxman.
326 pages, Paperback
Published May 6, 2021
36 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Alfred J. Church
371 books12 followersAlfred John Church (1829-1912) was an English classical scholar. He was born in London and was educated at King's College London, and Lincoln College, Oxford, he took holy orders and was an assistant-master at Merchant Taylors' School for many years. From 1880 until 1888 he was professor of Latin at University College, London. While at University College in partnership with William Jackson Brodribb, he translated Tacitus and edited Pliny's Letters (Epistulae). Church also wrote a number of stories in English re-telling of classical tales and legends for young people (Stories from Virgil, Stories from Homer, etc. ). He also wrote much Latin and English verse, and in 1908 published his Memories of Men and Books. Other works include: Stories of the Magicians (1887), The Count of the Saxon Shore; or, The Villa in Vectis (with Ruth Putnam) (1888), Heroes of Chivalry and Romance (1898), Stories of Charlemagne (1902), The Crown of Pine (1906) and With the King at Oxford (1909).
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 18, 2023
My high school literature teacher was insistent we read this book in Homer's original prose.
If the subsequent class discussions on this title are any indication, you can imagine the pain this caused us.
Notwithstanding, the book being the heavyweight in literature that it is, and quite some time later, I wanted to read it with a modern translation.
I reviewed a couple, and these were better, but still too close to Homer.
Next up was the title in modern English, as has been done to Shakespeare; still kind of thick and foggy, at least for me.
Then I came upon this edit.
The first thought was; not interested in a children's version.
But after a sample read- it was exactly what I was looking for!
Here, The Iliad and The Odyssey are very clearly presented, the story is told in simple language that neither distracts the eye, nor requires reading some sentences 2 or 3 times to 'get' because they seem backward.
It is readily understandable, all the way through it.
While Church may paraphrase here and there, he doesn't overlook any element of the story and any reader is able to grasp Homer's intent, message, theme, and style for his great poem.
It was enjoyable, a good read, but just as Homer's storyline is, it drags in places, perhaps because it is a bit too lengthy.
I wouldn't call it a page turner, rather, enjoyable and amusing.
I can't give you a strong recommendation, but I'm sure you'd find it worthwhile.
If the subsequent class discussions on this title are any indication, you can imagine the pain this caused us.
Notwithstanding, the book being the heavyweight in literature that it is, and quite some time later, I wanted to read it with a modern translation.
I reviewed a couple, and these were better, but still too close to Homer.
Next up was the title in modern English, as has been done to Shakespeare; still kind of thick and foggy, at least for me.
Then I came upon this edit.
The first thought was; not interested in a children's version.
But after a sample read- it was exactly what I was looking for!
Here, The Iliad and The Odyssey are very clearly presented, the story is told in simple language that neither distracts the eye, nor requires reading some sentences 2 or 3 times to 'get' because they seem backward.
It is readily understandable, all the way through it.
While Church may paraphrase here and there, he doesn't overlook any element of the story and any reader is able to grasp Homer's intent, message, theme, and style for his great poem.
It was enjoyable, a good read, but just as Homer's storyline is, it drags in places, perhaps because it is a bit too lengthy.
I wouldn't call it a page turner, rather, enjoyable and amusing.
I can't give you a strong recommendation, but I'm sure you'd find it worthwhile.
September 18, 2017
Fathers and sons, men and women, husbands and wives, brothers, rulers and servants, gods and men -- no man is an island to himself. Our loyalties and treacherous, braveries and cowardices are recorded in these two tales, thought to be almost three thousand years old.
The sad story of Troy, a city called Ilion in the Greek language and Ilius in the Latin language, is the subject of The Iliad. In a sentence, the vanity of a goddess, Minerva, tempted Paris, the youngest son of King Priam of Troy, to kidnap the wife of Menelaus, Helen, with the ultimate end being the destruction of Troy. Homer's narrative basically concentrates on the last few weeks of the Greek's ten-year siege of Troy. All during the long stand-off, the gods and goddesses have intervened here and there, making victory illusion and compromise impossible. A daunting divide exists even amongst the Hreeks themselves because Achilles, a mighty warrior, is at odds with King Agamemnon of Mycenae. In the end, although brace battles are fought, it takes the treacherous wooden horse to get the Trojans to let down their guards for the final defeat.
The ten year journey back home to wife Penelope and son Telemachus, of the wise Grecian Ulysses, is the subject of The Odyssey. He leaves Troy with a few ships and many men, but during his travels, he loses some here and some there, all violent and tragically. He, having ruled Ithaca, just wants to get back and resume his life, but the goal seems so elusive. The goddess Athena helps at several difficult spots; so finally, with no ship, no supplies, and no clothes, he finds a friendly kingdom which not only clothes and feeds him, but gives him a direct transport home on a magic ship. Once arrived to Ithaca, Athena helps him get through the difficulties of getting his wife's many suitors out of his palace.
The sad story of Troy, a city called Ilion in the Greek language and Ilius in the Latin language, is the subject of The Iliad. In a sentence, the vanity of a goddess, Minerva, tempted Paris, the youngest son of King Priam of Troy, to kidnap the wife of Menelaus, Helen, with the ultimate end being the destruction of Troy. Homer's narrative basically concentrates on the last few weeks of the Greek's ten-year siege of Troy. All during the long stand-off, the gods and goddesses have intervened here and there, making victory illusion and compromise impossible. A daunting divide exists even amongst the Hreeks themselves because Achilles, a mighty warrior, is at odds with King Agamemnon of Mycenae. In the end, although brace battles are fought, it takes the treacherous wooden horse to get the Trojans to let down their guards for the final defeat.
The ten year journey back home to wife Penelope and son Telemachus, of the wise Grecian Ulysses, is the subject of The Odyssey. He leaves Troy with a few ships and many men, but during his travels, he loses some here and some there, all violent and tragically. He, having ruled Ithaca, just wants to get back and resume his life, but the goal seems so elusive. The goddess Athena helps at several difficult spots; so finally, with no ship, no supplies, and no clothes, he finds a friendly kingdom which not only clothes and feeds him, but gives him a direct transport home on a magic ship. Once arrived to Ithaca, Athena helps him get through the difficulties of getting his wife's many suitors out of his palace.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2025
I think I would enjoy a less simplified version more, but too what extent more I am not sure. The stories themselves are entertaining and I see why they hold the cultural and historical significance they do. However, I just don’t think these particular stories did it for me. I will say I heavily preferred the Odyssey over the Iliad because a personal preference for adventure over just pure action. I think I may come back to these stories one day and see if my opinion changes. :^)
June 6, 2024
Picking books to use for a middle school history/literature class. I thoroughly enjoyed this one - more so than the book I am actually going to use (the Classic Starts version). I'm not using this one because the level is a little more difficult, there are a few gory parts, and the names of the characters are in their Roman form - which will confuse the students.
November 3, 2022
I read this book for the 52 books in 52 weeks reading challenge. I used the 2022 reading prompt read in November. The more i study the story the more it grows on me. I perfer the odyssey to the iliad.
December 14, 2018
While I'm sure the actual story is wonderful and compelling, focusing is hard. Wish I could've enjoyed it.
June 14, 2019
Absolutely loved the book. It has so manay awesome fight scenes, one of the best books I've ever read.
January 28, 2025
exciting
November 28, 2013
The language in this book is wonderful, and the story is gripping. I especially liked that fact that Alfred Church's retelling follows the exact outline and form of The Iliad and the Odyssey rather than simply being a generic version of the Trojan War story or the travels of Odysseus. We did it as a read aloud for the family.
March 28, 2016
Bah. Deceptive title. I thought I was getting the actual Iliad and Odyssey, but no, it was an abridged kiddie edition.
January 12, 2015
It was actually so dumb, it was kind of comical. The other odd thing is that the Trojan horse only comes in in the Aeneid.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews