Ancient Times (Oct-Dec 2025)

[Kate, Your Friendly Moderator]

That's another good one Adrienne. I gave that 5 stars too!

[Liz, Your Friendly Moderator]

I have Circe on my list because I enjoyed The Song of Achilles too - I hope you like it, Adrienne.

[Liz, Your Friendly Moderator]

I realise that Lindsay Clarke wrote another book - A Prince of Troy, all about the judgement of Paris - before The War at Troy, so I think I'm going to start there instead...

[Paul]

I've just complete Dante's Divine Comedy. So good. I'm glad I read Homer and Virgil before hand to get many of the references, but still loads more reading to do.

[Susie]

I intend to read Pompeii by Robert Harris for this challenge.

[Liz, Your Friendly Moderator]

I finished A Prince of Troy recently. It was good, but I think the backstory of key characters could have been worked into the overarching story a little better. Still I'm looking forward to the next one, I have no idea what's going to happen... something about a great big horse and a hero with a sprained ankle?.... ;)

[Liz, Your Friendly Moderator]

Paul wrote: "I've just complete Dante's Divine Comedy. So good. I'm glad I read Homer and Virgil before hand to get many of the references, but still loads more reading to do."

Very Impressive, Paul. I'd like to read the Iliad and Odyssey (and Dante) - I'm still skirting around them, reading other people's versions (some of which have been very good). I'll pluck up the courage someday...

[Paul]

well worth it Liz. these form the framework for such a huge number of books, plays and films.
I've just finished Beowulf, my first read. I need to read several more times and at a much slower pace to begin to understand and get the feeling for it. But I think it's another important epic.

[Liz, Your Friendly Moderator]

You're right, Paul. Like Shakespeare and the Bible, they serve as major influences over the whole of western literature.

[Kate, Your Friendly Moderator]

I've started off in Ancient Greece and just finished reading The Children of Jocasta which is the Oedipus story from the females' perspective. It was a good retelling but I was surprised that certain aspects were interpreted differently to the standard myth e.g. the sphynx.