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March 2012 Feature of the Month: Trojan War Month

A monthly discussion on varying themes guided by our members. (Book of the Month discussions through December 2011 can be found in this section too.)
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lauragill
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Post by lauragill » Wed March 7th, 2012, 12:56 am

[quote=""Carla""]The early medieval Britons did too; one of the origin stories in Historia Brittonum (written probably in North Wales in the early ninth century) says that the Britons were descended from Brutus who was a descendant of Aeneas grandson of King Priam.

I really like Song of Troy by Colleen McCullough. It's written from multiple points of view, with each chapter narrated by a different person telling their story (some people get several chapters, some only one). I liked that, because you get to see events from different sides, and also get to see each character on their own terms. And she writes so well, with the same salty humour as in the earlier Masters of Rome books.[/quote]

I loved Song of Troy so much that I was upset when it ended. Couldn't McCullough have written just a FEW more chapters?

Yes, Czar. Julius Caesar claimed descent from Venus through Aeneas and the Kings of Alba Longa.

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Nefret
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Post by Nefret » Wed March 7th, 2012, 1:34 am

This afternoon I got The Aenied and a NF book called The War That Killed Achilles from the campus library. I blame this thread.
Into battle we ride with Gods by our side
We are strong and not afraid to die
We have an urge to kill and our lust for blood has to be fulfilled
WE´LL FIGHT TILL THE END! And send our enemies straight to Hell!
- "Into Battle"
{Ensiferum}

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lauragill
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Post by lauragill » Wed March 7th, 2012, 3:18 am

[quote=""Nefret""]This afternoon I got The Aenied and a NF book called The War That Killed Achilles from the campus library. I blame this thread.[/quote]

I also recommend Barry Strauss's The Trojan War and Bettany Hughes's Helen of Troy.

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Nefret
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Post by Nefret » Wed March 7th, 2012, 3:53 am

[quote=""lauragill""]I also recommend Barry Strauss's The Trojan War and Bettany Hughes's Helen of Troy.[/quote]

I've read (and maybe own) the Strauss book. Perhaps the other one as well.

I need to check my library. :o
Into battle we ride with Gods by our side
We are strong and not afraid to die
We have an urge to kill and our lust for blood has to be fulfilled
WE´LL FIGHT TILL THE END! And send our enemies straight to Hell!
- "Into Battle"
{Ensiferum}

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lauragill
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Post by lauragill » Wed March 7th, 2012, 6:53 am

[quote=""Nefret""]I've read (and maybe own) the Strauss book. Perhaps the other one as well.

I need to check my library. :o [/quote]

I always have more NF titles to add to your TBR list. :D

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Nefret
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Post by Nefret » Wed March 7th, 2012, 6:55 am

[quote=""lauragill""]I always have more NF titles to add to your TBR list. :D [/quote]

Yay! Help to add to the mountain. I'll have to find and read your other suggestions after my library books first.
Into battle we ride with Gods by our side
We are strong and not afraid to die
We have an urge to kill and our lust for blood has to be fulfilled
WE´LL FIGHT TILL THE END! And send our enemies straight to Hell!
- "Into Battle"
{Ensiferum}

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Ludmilla
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Post by Ludmilla » Thu March 8th, 2012, 5:39 pm

I've been wanting to try different translations of the Iliad and Odyssey. My Lattimore editions are also falling apart. Anyone have recommendations on preferred translations?

annis
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Post by annis » Thu March 8th, 2012, 6:18 pm

Posted by Ludmilla
Barrico appends his retelling of the Iliad with the story of the wooden horse. One of the most chilling moments is when Helen circles the horse and starts speaking (or singing--can't remember which) in the voices of the wives of the Greeks hidden in the horse. This is excruciating for the men hidden in the horse. Odysseus has to cover the mouth of one of his men to keep him from crying out. The way that scene is told is very cinematic.
Going back to the Trojan Horse, I've just remembered a novel which is about the building of the horse - it's another one of those small, beautifully written books. Grant Buday, Dragonflies

McCullough's Song of Troy is one of my favourites as well, Carla.

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lauragill
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Post by lauragill » Thu March 8th, 2012, 9:46 pm

A little late Bronze Age-themed humor to make you smile.

Image

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Nefret
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Post by Nefret » Thu March 8th, 2012, 10:32 pm

Ha! Funny.
Into battle we ride with Gods by our side
We are strong and not afraid to die
We have an urge to kill and our lust for blood has to be fulfilled
WE´LL FIGHT TILL THE END! And send our enemies straight to Hell!
- "Into Battle"
{Ensiferum}

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