Synopses & Reviews
The classic story, plus fascinating background facts and photographs. The adventure of the Greek hero Odysseus -- a reluctant hero, doomed by the gods to wander for years far from his beloved home -- stand among the most unforgettable achievements of world literature. This powerful and immediate retelling by the renowned poet Adrian Mitchell coveys the major incidents of Homer's epic masterpiece with a captivating sense of the original work's power, mystery, and sheer excitement. Fact-filled columns and pages explore the themes of The Odyssey, provide revealing insights into the culture of the ancient Greeks, and encourage readers to a fuller understanding of this great legend.
Review
Exceptional, high-quality titlesÖ Both for the audio quality and textual presentation, these are outstanding selections. (Booklist)
Review
Innovative use of photography and narrative illustration. (African Sun Times)
About the Author
Adrian Mitchell writes plays, poems, and stories for children and adults. His plays for children based on classic literature include Mowgli's Jungle, The Pied Piper, and The Snow Queen. His books of poems for children include Nothingmas Day, All My Own Stuff, and The Thirteen Secrets of Poetry. He has written three books about Baron Munchausen, starting with The Baron Rides Out, and three books about two children who adopt a mammoth, starting with Our Mammoth. He has also adapted Hans Christian Andersen's The Steadfast Tin Soldier and The Ugly Duckling for Dorling Kindersley. The ancient Greek poet Homer, who is believed to have composed both The Iliad and The Odyssey, may have been born on the island of Chios around 800 BC. According to legend, he was blind. Little else is known about him. Stuart Robinson was born in Kent, England. He studied illustration at the Wimbledon School of Art from 1981 to 1984 and has worked as a professional illustrator ever since. He is also a successful painter and lived for many years in India where he developed a particular interest in painting figures from Hindu mythology. The Odyssey is his first book for Dorling Kindersley.