The Voyage of Odysseus
Mr Iliffe has written a series of books featuring the Greek hero Odysseus, and in this, the fifth instalment, Troy has finally fallen and the king of Ithaca prepares to sail back home – home to his waiting wife, Penelope, and his son, Telemachos. But Odysseus has angered the gods – in particular Athena – and so he is doomed to spend a decade making his way home.
The adventures of wily Odysseus are well known to most of us. We’ve all heard the stories about the Trojan horse, the escape from the cyclops, the seductive Circe and the dangerous sirens. Mr Iliffe therefore puts himself in the position of having to deliver a story that breathes life into the myth, hoping to captivate with his characters rather than the plot-line. Fortunately, Mr Iliffe delivers, creating flesh-and-blood people that capture the reader’s interest.
This Odysseus is a man who is as conscious of his flaws as he is of his virtues, who agonises constantly over his extended absence from wife and son. Further to Odysseus, Mr Iliffe has expanded the original cast with some new acquaintances, and especially Eperitus, Odysseus’ best friend, plays a central – and engaging – role as the principal viewpoint character (other than our Ithacan king himself).
The historical setting is always present without ever becoming obtrusive, all the way from the casually described clothing to the rituals of sacrifice. Vivid descriptive writing brings to life the geography of the region – and its temperamental seas. The dialogue is snappy and keeps the narrative flowing nicely throughout the 500-odd pages – a tad too long, in my opinion, despite Mr Iliffe’s excellent prose. I will, however, be on the lookout for the next and final instalment in this series.
e-book reviewed
