Achilles: New & Ancient Greek Tales - Hardcover

by David Leitao (Foreword by), Jonathan S. Burgess (Introduction by), Amber S. Benham (Contribution by)

Building on the huge popularity of mythological retellings, here is the story of the much lauded hero, Achilles, told through ancient and modern minds, in a beautiful collectable edition.

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.

Author Biography

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.