Achilles
New & Ancient Greek Tales
Flame Tree Publishing
Published on 31. March 2025
Book
Hardback
368 pages
978-1-83562-262-9 (ISBN)
Description
Featuring the stunning Flame Tree cover treatment, with new stories from open submissions alongside the classic stories and fascinating background, this gorgeous new book reveals the man behind the myth of Achilles, the great warrior of the Trojan War. Considered the epitome of heroism in Greek mythology, Achilles' bravery in combat is famously depicted in Homer's Iliad, but every hero has their flaws. Authors from classical times all the way through to late Antiquity and the modern era have interpreted his character in a multitude of ways, and this latest book continues the tradition, exploring everything from his exploits in the war and interactions with Agamemnon, Patroclus, Hector and more, back to his early days as an infant dipped into the River Styx, exposing one vulnerable heel. Learn all about the history of the character, followed by new stories that give new food for thought, imagining alternative paths, deeper backgrounds and different viewpoints.
Introductory essay by Jonathan S. Burgess, and foreword by David Leitao. The modern authors whose stories feature in this book are: Amber S. Benham, Hammond Diehl, Corey D. Evans, Kenzie Lappin, Russell Hugh McConnell, Zenobia Neil, Mari Ness, Parker M. O'Neill, Celeste Plowden, Sultana Raza, Chey Rivera, Patricia Scott, Susan Shwartz, Rose Strickman, Adam B. Widmer, Ernie Xu, and Lily Zimmerman.
About the series: Discover the mythology of humankind through its heroes, characters, gods and immortal figures. Myths, Gods & Immortals brings together the new and the ancient, familiar stories with a fresh and imaginative twist. Each book brings back to life a legendary, mythological or folkloric figure, with new stories alongside a comprehensive introduction which tells the original tales and emphasizes ancient and modern connections, tracing history and stories across continents, cultures and peoples. New and emerging writers from open submissions reveal hidden themes, casting fresh perspectives on well known stories, complementing the specially commissioned story of the origins and the cultural background from the era. The first titles are Medusa, Odin, Anansi and Circe.
Introductory essay by Jonathan S. Burgess, and foreword by David Leitao. The modern authors whose stories feature in this book are: Amber S. Benham, Hammond Diehl, Corey D. Evans, Kenzie Lappin, Russell Hugh McConnell, Zenobia Neil, Mari Ness, Parker M. O'Neill, Celeste Plowden, Sultana Raza, Chey Rivera, Patricia Scott, Susan Shwartz, Rose Strickman, Adam B. Widmer, Ernie Xu, and Lily Zimmerman.
About the series: Discover the mythology of humankind through its heroes, characters, gods and immortal figures. Myths, Gods & Immortals brings together the new and the ancient, familiar stories with a fresh and imaginative twist. Each book brings back to life a legendary, mythological or folkloric figure, with new stories alongside a comprehensive introduction which tells the original tales and emphasizes ancient and modern connections, tracing history and stories across continents, cultures and peoples. New and emerging writers from open submissions reveal hidden themes, casting fresh perspectives on well known stories, complementing the specially commissioned story of the origins and the cultural background from the era. The first titles are Medusa, Odin, Anansi and Circe.
Reviews / Votes
"Readers of all ages will enjoy learning all about the history of Achilles in history and myth, folklore and legend. Of special note is the inclusion of new stories that inspire new perceptions, imagining alternative paths, deeper backgrounds and different viewpoints on the man and legend know to history as Achilles! This hardcover edition of "Achilles: New & Ancient Greek Tales" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, highschool, community, and college/university library Myth/Folklore collections." -- Midwest Book ReviewMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Illustrations
3 Line drawings, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 217 mm
Width: 153 mm
Thickness: 29 mm
Weight
702 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-83562-262-9 (9781835622629)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Jonathan S. Burgess ('Introducing Achilles') has a BA in American Studies from Colby College, an MA in Classical Studies and Literature from the University of Kentucky, Lexington, and a PhD in Classical Studies from the University of Toronto. Since 1995 he has taught at the Department of Classics at the University of Toronto. His major publications are The Tradition of the Trojan War in Homer and the Epic Cycle (2001), The Death and Afterlife of Achilles (2009) and Homer (2015). A forthcoming publication is The Travels of Odysseus.
David Leitao (Foreword) earned his BA in History from Dartmouth, then his MA and PhD in Classics at the University of Michigan. He has published widely on Greek mythology and religion, including a book entitled The Pregnant Male: Myth and Metaphor in Classical Greek Literature (Cambridge University Press, 2012). He taught for many years at San Francisco State University, where he is now Professor Emeritus of Classics.
David Leitao (Foreword) earned his BA in History from Dartmouth, then his MA and PhD in Classics at the University of Michigan. He has published widely on Greek mythology and religion, including a book entitled The Pregnant Male: Myth and Metaphor in Classical Greek Literature (Cambridge University Press, 2012). He taught for many years at San Francisco State University, where he is now Professor Emeritus of Classics.