The Tale of Troy – Review

An actor, teacher, and friend of C.S. Lewis, Roger Lancelyn Green was a gifted storyteller who wrote several short stories for children based on ancient myths and legends. He is credited with encouraging Lewis to publish The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. The Tale of Troy is about the epic Greek myths of the Trojan War and the heroes’ return home.

If your son or daughter is not quite ready to read the longer epics, this story is a good place to start. It’s an excellent introduction to Homer’s Iliad, Odyssey, and other Greek legends. Green notes that he stayed true to the ancient myths but condensed the accounts, telling the entire story, including: the backstory, the war, the Trojan horse, what happened to the heroes, and Odysseus’s epic journey home to his wife, son, and kingdom.

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Green explains that he drew on Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, as well as other ancient sources, to tell the story. Thus, the book adds context, which was especially enjoyable and helpful. It tells in brief form significant stories of the central characters, including Agamemnon, Menelaus, Paris, Helen, Achilles, Hector, Ajax, Aeneas, Odysseus, Telemachus, Penelope, and others.

If you want your kid to develop an understanding of the foundation of the West’s literature, it’s hard to think of a better choice. The book is well written, action-packed, and moves quickly along. I recommend it for reading to your kids and for high school kids (also, middle school students can handle it easily).

Finally, the illustrations are by Pauline Baynes, the original illustrator of The Chronicles of Narnia. The story and the pictures engage the reader in one of the most significant stories ever told.