Absolutely brilliant!!!, 16 Apr 2008
This book is worth its weight in gold for anyone who needs to write essays and I have recommended it to many of my friends. I have always been able to write decent enough essays, getting A grade GCSEs and A/ B grade Alevels, but my undergraduate essays never quite seemed to reach the top marks. I couldn't quite understand this though because I always got top marks for my scientific reports, literature reviews, and exams yet my essays never seemed to go above a 2:1. If I put in a huge amount of effort I would be able to reach a high 2:1, while hardly any effort would get me a low 2:1, I just couldn't seem to break out of it! That was until I read this book.

This book was an absolute delight to read. It is extremely well written, interesting and engaging. To be honest, I just couldn't put it down. It was as though everything clicked into place for me - I could see exactly where I'd been going wrong. The book breaks down the process of essay writing into steps starting from how to think about essay questions, how to make notes and read background material, right through to writing style and proof reading. It is broken down in a way which is easy to follow and apply. But more than just improving your essays, this book provides advise on how to think more creatively - so you can reach those 1st class grades. However good your essays currently are, Greethams book will undoubtedly improve them, and I would reccommend it to every undergraduate!

Before I read this book I always found essay writing a laborious and painful process which I usually procrastinated about and spent many days dreading having to actually get down and do. This book actually made the whole process of essay writing much more enjoyable, and actually much quicker. My essays now take much less time (from background reading to final draft), get better marks, and are more enjoyable to write - what more could any student want. The first essay I wrote after finishing this book got a 1st, and I have never got anything less than a 1st for any essay since.

It is now nearly 2 years since I read this book and I have recently graduated (with a 1st). I deceided to write this review because I feel so indebted to Greetham's book for transforming my academic experience.

The only guide you need for essays, 01 Jan 2008
Having been stuggling to find a good guide to essay writing my prayers were answered when i happen to stubble across this one. 'How to write better essays' is everything you need to know to write better essays from time management, researching, structure etc... Easy to read and filled with practical exercises to help build up your skills. Love this quide!

It worked for me., 08 Oct 2007
This is a good book that is packed with useful advice that really makes a difference. We were told to buy a really useless book that was supposed to make you better at legal reasoning and essay writing but it was a total waste of time so I bought this book instead and it has really made my marks better. It was a bit dull in places and there could have been a bit more effort made to make the whole thing easier to follow but the results make it worth the effort of ploughing through it as you end up with all sorts of ideas about how to make your work better. It worked for me.

How to write better essays., 09 Feb 2006
This book is horribly unengaging. It is difficult to simply pick up and read because the boring nature of the subject is presented in dull, lifeless format.

The content is superb if you persevere; greetham goes into great depth from interpreting the essay title through to presentation. I have improved from low 60's to high 60's over christmas in my second year of a degree from using this book.

So; if you do not need visual stimulus to keep you engaged then this is for you.

my grades went from C's to A's..., 06 Jan 2006
If you've only written essays at GCSE or A level then it can be a huge leap into a different territory when you begin writing undergraduate level assignments. This book fills in the gaps in a totally accessible way and is suitable for all study levels.
After reading it and putting the techniques into practice my grades went from C's to A's - need I say more!

Absolutely brilliant!!!, 16 Apr 2008
This book is worth its weight in gold for anyone who needs to write essays and I have recommended it to many of my friends. I have always been able to write decent enough essays, getting A grade GCSEs and A/ B grade Alevels, but my undergraduate essays never quite seemed to reach the top marks. I couldn't quite understand this though because I always got top marks for my scientific reports, literature reviews, and exams yet my essays never seemed to go above a 2:1. If I put in a huge amount of effort I would be able to reach a high 2:1, while hardly any effort would get me a low 2:1, I just couldn't seem to break out of it! That was until I read this book.

This book was an absolute delight to read. It is extremely well written, interesting and engaging. To be honest, I just couldn't put it down. It was as though everything clicked into place for me - I could see exactly where I'd been going wrong. The book breaks down the process of essay writing into steps starting from how to think about essay questions, how to make notes and read background material, right through to writing style and proof reading. It is broken down in a way which is easy to follow and apply. But more than just improving your essays, this book provides advise on how to think more creatively - so you can reach those 1st class grades. However good your essays currently are, Greethams book will undoubtedly improve them, and I would reccommend it to every undergraduate!

Before I read this book I always found essay writing a laborious and painful process which I usually procrastinated about and spent many days dreading having to actually get down and do. This book actually made the whole process of essay writing much more enjoyable, and actually much quicker. My essays now take much less time (from background reading to final draft), get better marks, and are more enjoyable to write - what more could any student want. The first essay I wrote after finishing this book got a 1st, and I have never got anything less than a 1st for any essay since.

It is now nearly 2 years since I read this book and I have recently graduated (with a 1st). I deceided to write this review because I feel so indebted to Greetham's book for transforming my academic experience.

The only guide you need for essays, 01 Jan 2008
Having been stuggling to find a good guide to essay writing my prayers were answered when i happen to stubble across this one. 'How to write better essays' is everything you need to know to write better essays from time management, researching, structure etc... Easy to read and filled with practical exercises to help build up your skills. Love this quide!

It worked for me., 08 Oct 2007
This is a good book that is packed with useful advice that really makes a difference. We were told to buy a really useless book that was supposed to make you better at legal reasoning and essay writing but it was a total waste of time so I bought this book instead and it has really made my marks better. It was a bit dull in places and there could have been a bit more effort made to make the whole thing easier to follow but the results make it worth the effort of ploughing through it as you end up with all sorts of ideas about how to make your work better. It worked for me.

How to write better essays., 09 Feb 2006
This book is horribly unengaging. It is difficult to simply pick up and read because the boring nature of the subject is presented in dull, lifeless format.

The content is superb if you persevere; greetham goes into great depth from interpreting the essay title through to presentation. I have improved from low 60's to high 60's over christmas in my second year of a degree from using this book.

So; if you do not need visual stimulus to keep you engaged then this is for you.

my grades went from C's to A's..., 06 Jan 2006
If you've only written essays at GCSE or A level then it can be a huge leap into a different territory when you begin writing undergraduate level assignments. This book fills in the gaps in a totally accessible way and is suitable for all study levels.
After reading it and putting the techniques into practice my grades went from C's to A's - need I say more!

Better left at sea, 27 Jun 2008
I thought this book would be great, an interesting adventure and my first step into the literary world of greek classics. But after this, I am not rushing out to buy another greek classic.

The story is good, and the interesting mythological creatures and encounters are what kept me reading it. The characters make a square look less two dimensional and I can't, in all honesty, say I liked the good ones. I found Odysseus very arrogant and the gods hypocritical and the actions of them morally questionable. The style was also patronizing in places, by always addressing characters with an adjective describing their character, which we should make our own minds about, and not be force fed what we should think of them.

Perhaps if I was born at the time this was written, I might have enjoyed it more, however, in this century, I can't understand what is particularly good about it as a piece of literature. Therefore, for a good novel in its own right, avoid this.

Excellent story but hard to read, 18 Nov 2007
I recently finished this book and although I thoroughly enjoyed it, I also found it hard to read. I read this book regularly but often couldn't remember what I had just read. I would also end up re-reading paragraphs I had read only minutes before, as I couldn't remember reading them at all! The funny thing however, is that I could tell you exactly what happens in the correct order so clearly it was being absorbed. This appears to be a problem that affected only myself however, so maybe the style of writing wasn't quite suited to me.

If you have an interest in Classics or are working your way through the classic novels (such as myself), I highly recommend this book. I can guarantee that you will really enjoy it.

The Odyssey in 24 words, 03 Sep 2007
Mediterranean cruise with divine beauties and blind shepherds, swine and swingers, Scylla and Charybdis and Hades minitour. With wife at home taking double turns.

A classic at its best, 13 Aug 2007
The Odyssey covers the twenty years Odysseus is away from his family and friends in Ithica. The first ten years or so are spent in Troy where he fights on the side of the Greeks against the Trojans (see The Iliad) and concieves the idea of the famous "wooden horse". The remainder of his time away is spent on an ill-fated journey home where he looses all of his crew at various stages.

The main cause of delay is due to Poseidan the Earth-Shaker after he blinds his son, Cyclops Polyphemus. He is then detained by Circe (a demi-Goddess who is a witch). After an incident where she turns some of his crew into pigs, she sends him to the Underworld to speak to the seer Teiresias to learn how to return homw. After he leaves he faces the Sirens and the monsters Scylla and Charybdis who carry off some of his crew. The rest of his crew are killed after eating the Sun-Gods cattle on the island Thrinacia as punnishment. Odysseus is then detained 7 more years on the island of Ogygia where he washes up by Calypso. She is trying to get him to marry her and become immortal.

Eventally he gets back to his homeland with a little help from the Phaeacians and the Goddess Athena disguises him. While he has been away his wife has been beset by suitors who are trying to win her hand (assuming Odysseus is dead) in marriage and are treating his house and son Telemachus with disresect. Eventually father and son team up to kill all the suitors and all are finally reunited.

I really enjoyed this book, more so than The Iliad. I definately recommend reading The Iliad and then The Odyssey, not just because it makes sense chronologically but also because this is a more enjoyable story. The only problem I really had was that poor sensible Penelope is never consulted or trusted by her son or husband. Telemachus runs off and doesn't tell her and then Odysseus returns and tells his son and old nurse, but not his wife who has spent the last twenty years crying and mourning his loss. Pretty heartless really!

Read this twice...., 16 Jan 2007
The first time, read it for the tale.

The tale of the wandering of Odysseus and the trials, tribulations and adventures that befall him as he attempts to return to his rocky Ithaca and Penelope of the shapely ankles. It's a rollicking read. You'll be reminded of snippets of Sindbad, Aladdin, Watership Down, Captain Corelli's bloody Mandolin and so many other later works that involve a "homecoming". But this was the first.

The first time these stories about men, gods and monsters were all pulled together into a pretty coherent narrative. Most of the sub-tales such as Odysseus' trip into Hell, his encounter with monsters such as Polyphemus the Cyclops and the Harpies; with Proteus, the Sirens and the witch Circe were all probably part of a repetoire of tales delivered by the local poet/entertainer long before someone called Homer grabbed the posthumous glory by having them ascribed to him.

Homecomings are still a pretty popular genre in film, television and print. There must be something in the plot device which touches an unconscious part of us. It's a bit feelgood; it's a bit dreadful. It engages us all. Is Odyseus going to get home? What will happen to his wife and son? What would I do?

So, read it first for the story. And surprise yourself at how well you recognise the motivations and actions of characters placed in these situations over 2700 years ago. We haven't changed much, have we?

Then read it again.

This time, read it for the world of Odysseus. For what it tells you about the way we lived in a pre-literate, feudal society where any kind of progress was hard-won and very easily lost. Read it for the similes and metaphors Homer uses to describe things and events to an audience to make them come alive and be real to them. What do they tell you about the world back then? What do they tell you about the experiences of the audience and how would they feel, contrasting their life with that of this epic tale?

Read it for the insight into man's relationship with the gods. How did the ancient audience perceive them? Were they beings to be feared and propitiated? Wasn't that what kings were, too? Was there something more in the relationship between Odysseus and Athene? Something a little more human? Hmmmm.

Every page has something new to tell us about this now lost world. Look carefully and you can see stuff about the role of women in Homeric society; there's stuff about the etiquette and meaning of gift-giving in there. There's even stuff about how economics worked all those years ago. In fact, if you look closely enough (and stare at a few vase paintings as well) you can make an entire academic career out of this book.

But that would be missing the point.

Read it (at least) twice. It's got to be the best fiver you'll ever spend.

Absolutely brilliant!!!, 16 Apr 2008
This book is worth its weight in gold for anyone who needs to write essays and I have recommended it to many of my friends. I have always been able to write decent enough essays, getting A grade GCSEs and A/ B grade Alevels, but my undergraduate essays never quite seemed to reach the top marks. I couldn't quite understand this though because I always got top marks for my scientific reports, literature reviews, and exams yet my essays never seemed to go above a 2:1. If I put in a huge amount of effort I would be able to reach a high 2:1, while hardly any effort would get me a low 2:1, I just couldn't seem to break out of it! That was until I read this book.

This book was an absolute delight to read. It is extremely well written, interesting and engaging. To be honest, I just couldn't put it down. It was as though everything clicked into place for me - I could see exactly where I'd been going wrong. The book breaks down the process of essay writing into steps starting from how to think about essay questions, how to make notes and read background material, right through to writing style and proof reading. It is broken down in a way which is easy to follow and apply. But more than just improving your essays, this book provides advise on how to think more creatively - so you can reach those 1st class grades. However good your essays currently are, Greethams book will undoubtedly improve them, and I would reccommend it to every undergraduate!

Before I read this book I always found essay writing a laborious and painful process which I usually procrastinated about and spent many days dreading having to actually get down and do. This book actually made the whole process of essay writing much more enjoyable, and actually much quicker. My essays now take much less time (from background reading to final draft), get better marks, and are more enjoyable to write - what more could any student want. The first essay I wrote after finishing this book got a 1st, and I have never got anything less than a 1st for any essay since.

It is now nearly 2 years since I read this book and I have recently graduated (with a 1st). I deceided to write this review because I feel so indebted to Greetham's book for transforming my academic experience.

The only guide you need for essays, 01 Jan 2008
Having been stuggling to find a good guide to essay writing my prayers were answered when i happen to stubble across this one. 'How to write better essays' is everything you need to know to write better essays from time management, researching, structure etc... Easy to read and filled with practical exercises to help build up your skills. Love this quide!

It worked for me., 08 Oct 2007
This is a good book that is packed with useful advice that really makes a difference. We were told to buy a really useless book that was supposed to make you better at legal reasoning and essay writing but it was a total waste of time so I bought this book instead and it has really made my marks better. It was a bit dull in places and there could have been a bit more effort made to make the whole thing easier to follow but the results make it worth the effort of ploughing through it as you end up with all sorts of ideas about how to make your work better. It worked for me.

How to write better essays., 09 Feb 2006
This book is horribly unengaging. It is difficult to simply pick up and read because the boring nature of the subject is presented in dull, lifeless format.

The content is superb if you persevere; greetham goes into great depth from interpreting the essay title through to presentation. I have improved from low 60's to high 60's over christmas in my second year of a degree from using this book.

So; if you do not need visual stimulus to keep you engaged then this is for you.

my grades went from C's to A's..., 06 Jan 2006
If you've only written essays at GCSE or A level then it can be a huge leap into a different territory when you begin writing undergraduate level assignments. This book fills in the gaps in a totally accessible way and is suitable for all study levels.
After reading it and putting the techniques into practice my grades went from C's to A's - need I say more!

Better left at sea, 27 Jun 2008
I thought this book would be great, an interesting adventure and my first step into the literary world of greek classics. But after this, I am not rushing out to buy another greek classic.

The story is good, and the interesting mythological creatures and encounters are what kept me reading it. The characters make a square look less two dimensional and I can't, in all honesty, say I liked the good ones. I found Odysseus very arrogant and the gods hypocritical and the actions of them morally questionable. The style was also patronizing in places, by always addressing characters with an adjective describing their character, which we should make our own minds about, and not be force fed what we should think of them.

Perhaps if I was born at the time this was written, I might have enjoyed it more, however, in this century, I can't understand what is particularly good about it as a piece of literature. Therefore, for a good novel in its own right, avoid this.

Excellent story but hard to read, 18 Nov 2007
I recently finished this book and although I thoroughly enjoyed it, I also found it hard to read. I read this book regularly but often couldn't remember what I had just read. I would also end up re-reading paragraphs I had read only minutes before, as I couldn't remember reading them at all! The funny thing however, is that I could tell you exactly what happens in the correct order so clearly it was being absorbed. This appears to be a problem that affected only myself however, so maybe the style of writing wasn't quite suited to me.

If you have an interest in Classics or are working your way through the classic novels (such as myself), I highly recommend this book. I can guarantee that you will really enjoy it.

The Odyssey in 24 words, 03 Sep 2007
Mediterranean cruise with divine beauties and blind shepherds, swine and swingers, Scylla and Charybdis and Hades minitour. With wife at home taking double turns.

A classic at its best, 13 Aug 2007
The Odyssey covers the twenty years Odysseus is away from his family and friends in Ithica. The first ten years or so are spent in Troy where he fights on the side of the Greeks against the Trojans (see The Iliad) and concieves the idea of the famous "wooden horse". The remainder of his time away is spent on an ill-fated journey home where he looses all of his crew at various stages.

The main cause of delay is due to Poseidan the Earth-Shaker after he blinds his son, Cyclops Polyphemus. He is then detained by Circe (a demi-Goddess who is a witch). After an incident where she turns some of his crew into pigs, she sends him to the Underworld to speak to the seer Teiresias to learn how to return homw. After he leaves he faces the Sirens and the monsters Scylla and Charybdis who carry off some of his crew. The rest of his crew are killed after eating the Sun-Gods cattle on the island Thrinacia as punnishment. Odysseus is then detained 7 more years on the island of Ogygia where he washes up by Calypso. She is trying to get him to marry her and become immortal.

Eventally he gets back to his homeland with a little help from the Phaeacians and the Goddess Athena disguises him. While he has been away his wife has been beset by suitors who are trying to win her hand (assuming Odysseus is dead) in marriage and are treating his house and son Telemachus with disresect. Eventually father and son team up to kill all the suitors and all are finally reunited.

I really enjoyed this book, more so than The Iliad. I definately recommend reading The Iliad and then The Odyssey, not just because it makes sense chronologically but also because this is a more enjoyable story. The only problem I really had was that poor sensible Penelope is never consulted or trusted by her son or husband. Telemachus runs off and doesn't tell her and then Odysseus returns and tells his son and old nurse, but not his wife who has spent the last twenty years crying and mourning his loss. Pretty heartless really!

Read this twice...., 16 Jan 2007
The first time, read it for the tale.

The tale of the wandering of Odysseus and the trials, tribulations and adventures that befall him as he attempts to return to his rocky Ithaca and Penelope of the shapely ankles. It's a rollicking read. You'll be reminded of snippets of Sindbad, Aladdin, Watership Down, Captain Corelli's bloody Mandolin and so many other later works that involve a "homecoming". But this was the first.

The first time these stories about men, gods and monsters were all pulled together into a pretty coherent narrative. Most of the sub-tales such as Odysseus' trip into Hell, his encounter with monsters such as Polyphemus the Cyclops and the Harpies; with Proteus, the Sirens and the witch Circe were all probably part of a repetoire of tales delivered by the local poet/entertainer long before someone called Homer grabbed the posthumous glory by having them ascribed to him.

Homecomings are still a pretty popular genre in film, television and print. There must be something in the plot device which touches an unconscious part of us. It's a bit feelgood; it's a bit dreadful. It engages us all. Is Odyseus going to get home? What will happen to his wife and son? What would I do?

So, read it first for the story. And surprise yourself at how well you recognise the motivations and actions of characters placed in these situations over 2700 years ago. We haven't changed much, have we?

Then read it again.

This time, read it for the world of Odysseus. For what it tells you about the way we lived in a pre-literate, feudal society where any kind of progress was hard-won and very easily lost. Read it for the similes and metaphors Homer uses to describe things and events to an audience to make them come alive and be real to them. What do they tell you about the world back then? What do they tell you about the experiences of the audience and how would they feel, contrasting their life with that of this epic tale?

Read it for the insight into man's relationship with the gods. How did the ancient audience perceive them? Were they beings to be feared and propitiated? Wasn't that what kings were, too? Was there something more in the relationship between Odysseus and Athene? Something a little more human? Hmmmm.

Every page has something new to tell us about this now lost world. Look carefully and you can see stuff about the role of women in Homeric society; there's stuff about the etiquette and meaning of gift-giving in there. There's even stuff about how economics worked all those years ago. In fact, if you look closely enough (and stare at a few vase paintings as well) you can make an entire academic career out of this book.

But that would be missing the point.

Read it (at least) twice. It's got to be the best fiver you'll ever spend.



Good introduction to 'new' ideas in culture, 18 Nov 2008
Subjects such as literature and the history of art have undergone a revolution since the 1970s or thereabouts as many theories and techniques from other disciplines are now routinely used as approaches to discuss text.

This book contains a discussion of all the usual ideas e.g. Marxist, Semiotics, psychoanalysis, gender and so on.

I agree that some of these approaches may give one additional insight into a book or picture. I am sometimes sceptical of the use made of these ideas by some critics though and feel that in the wrong hands they can lead to some bizarre and patently wrong interpretations. I think that they should only supplement and perhaps correct traditional approaches rather than replace them altogether.

A Useful Text, 18 Aug 2006
This book has some great summary sections which are invaluable when revising and trying to learn key points of each theory. However Barry does tend to 'waffle' a bit in places, sometimes making it difficult to understand and there are some errors in the book itself. But it is definately worth getting for the summaries alone, but make sure it is supported by another text.

Great book, 29 Mar 2006
As a student at Peter Barry's institution, The University of Wales, Aberystwyth I was pleased to find that one of my own tutors had written an accessible alternative to Rivkin and Ryan. This work serves as a fantastic introduction to literary theory and will please beginners and pros alike.

5 Stars!, 04 Nov 2004
Peter Barry's book is very inspiring to read. I have brought many books to help grasp an understanding on literary theory but I have to say none have explained it quite as well as Peter Barry. Beginning Theory: An Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory covers a wide range of areas, the language is simplistic and each theory is explained clearly and with examples. I have also gained a much better understanding on how Freudian interpretation works. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! WORTH EVERY PENNY!!!

Book covers:
Liberal Humanism, Structuralism, Post-structuralism and deconstruction, Postmodernism, Psychoanalytic criticism, Feminist criticism, Lesbian/Gay criticism, Marxist criticism, New historicism and cultural materialism, Postcolonial criticism, Stylistics, Narratology and Ecocriticism.

an excellent introduction/refresher course, 22 Sep 2003
This book provides a great introduction to the world of theory which often confuses first year literature students and puts them off the study of english. It explains, unlike other texts, how the concept of theory emerges. As a postgrad student, I was aware I needed to brush up on the dreaded theory so I picked up this introduction, and was pleasantly surprised. So much more accessible than Rivkin and Ryan!

Absolutely brilliant!!!, 16 Apr 2008
This book is worth its weight in gold for anyone who needs to write essays and I have recommended it to many of my friends. I have always been able to write decent enough essays, getting A grade GCSEs and A/ B grade Alevels, but my undergraduate essays never quite seemed to reach the top marks. I couldn't quite understand this though because I always got top marks for my scientific reports, literature reviews, and exams yet my essays never seemed to go above a 2:1. If I put in a huge amount of effort I would be able to reach a high 2:1, while hardly any effort would get me a low 2:1, I just couldn't seem to break out of it! That was until I read this book.

This book was an absolute delight to read. It is extremely well written, interesting and engaging. To be honest, I just couldn't put it down. It was as though everything clicked into place for me - I could see exactly where I'd been going wrong. The book breaks down the process of essay writing into steps starting from how to think about essay questions, how to make notes and read background material, right through to writing style and proof reading. It is broken down in a way which is easy to follow and apply. But more than just improving your essays, this book provides advise on how to think more creatively - so you can reach those 1st class grades. However good your essays currently are, Greethams book will undoubtedly improve them, and I would reccommend it to every undergraduate!

Before I read this book I always found essay writing a laborious and painful process which I usually procrastinated about and spent many days dreading having to actually get down and do. This book actually made the whole process of essay writing much more enjoyable, and actually much quicker. My essays now take much less time (from background reading to final draft), get better marks, and are more enjoyable to write - what more could any student want. The first essay I wrote after finishing this book got a 1st, and I have never got anything less than a 1st for any essay since.

It is now nearly 2 years since I read this book and I have recently graduated (with a 1st). I deceided to write this review because I feel so indebted to Greetham's book for transforming my academic experience.

The only guide you need for essays, 01 Jan 2008
Having been stuggling to find a good guide to essay writing my prayers were answered when i happen to stubble across this one. 'How to write better essays' is everything you need to know to write better essays from time management, researching, structure etc... Easy to read and filled with practical exercises to help build up your skills. Love this quide!

It worked for me., 08 Oct 2007
This is a good book that is packed with useful advice that really makes a difference. We were told to buy a really useless book that was supposed to make you better at legal reasoning and essay writing but it was a total waste of time so I bought this book instead and it has really made my marks better. It was a bit dull in places and there could have been a bit more effort made to make the whole thing easier to follow but the results make it worth the effort of ploughing through it as you end up with all sorts of ideas about how to make your work better. It worked for me.

How to write better essays., 09 Feb 2006
This book is horribly unengaging. It is difficult to simply pick up and read because the boring nature of the subject is presented in dull, lifeless format.

The content is superb if you persevere; greetham goes into great depth from interpreting the essay title through to presentation. I have improved from low 60's to high 60's over christmas in my second year of a degree from using this book.

So; if you do not need visual stimulus to keep you engaged then this is for you.

my grades went from C's to A's..., 06 Jan 2006
If you've only written essays at GCSE or A level then it can be a huge leap into a different territory when you begin writing undergraduate level assignments. This book fills in the gaps in a totally accessible way and is suitable for all study levels.
After reading it and putting the techniques into practice my grades went from C's to A's - need I say more!

Better left at sea, 27 Jun 2008
I thought this book would be great, an interesting adventure and my first step into the literary world of greek classics. But after this, I am not rushing out to buy another greek classic.

The story is good, and the interesting mythological creatures and encounters are what kept me reading it. The characters make a square look less two dimensional and I can't, in all honesty, say I liked the good ones. I found Odysseus very arrogant and the gods hypocritical and the actions of them morally questionable. The style was also patronizing in places, by always addressing characters with an adjective describing their character, which we should make our own minds about, and not be force fed what we should think of them.

Perhaps if I was born at the time this was written, I might have enjoyed it more, however, in this century, I can't understand what is particularly good about it as a piece of literature. Therefore, for a good novel in its own right, avoid this.

Excellent story but hard to read, 18 Nov 2007
I recently finished this book and although I thoroughly enjoyed it, I also found it hard to read. I read this book regularly but often couldn't remember what I had just read. I would also end up re-reading paragraphs I had read only minutes before, as I couldn't remember reading them at all! The funny thing however, is that I could tell you exactly what happens in the correct order so clearly it was being absorbed. This appears to be a problem that affected only myself however, so maybe the style of writing wasn't quite suited to me.

If you have an interest in Classics or are working your way through the classic novels (such as myself), I highly recommend this book. I can guarantee that you will really enjoy it.

The Odyssey in 24 words, 03 Sep 2007
Mediterranean cruise with divine beauties and blind shepherds, swine and swingers, Scylla and Charybdis and Hades minitour. With wife at home taking double turns.

A classic at its best, 13 Aug 2007
The Odyssey covers the twenty years Odysseus is away from his family and friends in Ithica. The first ten years or so are spent in Troy where he fights on the side of the Greeks against the Trojans (see The Iliad) and concieves the idea of the famous "wooden horse". The remainder of his time away is spent on an ill-fated journey home where he looses all of his crew at various stages.

The main cause of delay is due to Poseidan the Earth-Shaker after he blinds his son, Cyclops Polyphemus. He is then detained by Circe (a demi-Goddess who is a witch). After an incident where she turns some of his crew into pigs, she sends him to the Underworld to speak to the seer Teiresias to learn how to return homw. After he leaves he faces the Sirens and the monsters Scylla and Charybdis who carry off some of his crew. The rest of his crew are killed after eating the Sun-Gods cattle on the island Thrinacia as punnishment. Odysseus is then detained 7 more years on the island of Ogygia where he washes up by Calypso. She is trying to get him to marry her and become immortal.

Eventally he gets back to his homeland with a little help from the Phaeacians and the Goddess Athena disguises him. While he has been away his wife has been beset by suitors who are trying to win her hand (assuming Odysseus is dead) in marriage and are treating his house and son Telemachus with disresect. Eventually father and son team up to kill all the suitors and all are finally reunited.

I really enjoyed this book, more so than The Iliad. I definately recommend reading The Iliad and then The Odyssey, not just because it makes sense chronologically but also because this is a more enjoyable story. The only problem I really had was that poor sensible Penelope is never consulted or trusted by her son or husband. Telemachus runs off and doesn't tell her and then Odysseus returns and tells his son and old nurse, but not his wife who has spent the last twenty years crying and mourning his loss. Pretty heartless really!

Read this twice...., 16 Jan 2007
The first time, read it for the tale.

The tale of the wandering of Odysseus and the trials, tribulations and adventures that befall him as he attempts to return to his rocky Ithaca and Penelope of the shapely ankles. It's a rollicking read. You'll be reminded of snippets of Sindbad, Aladdin, Watership Down, Captain Corelli's bloody Mandolin and so many other later works that involve a "homecoming". But this was the first.

The first time these stories about men, gods and monsters were all pulled together into a pretty coherent narrative. Most of the sub-tales such as Odysseus' trip into Hell, his encounter with monsters such as Polyphemus the Cyclops and the Harpies; with Proteus, the Sirens and the witch Circe were all probably part of a repetoire of tales delivered by the local poet/entertainer long before someone called Homer grabbed the posthumous glory by having them ascribed to him.

Homecomings are still a pretty popular genre in film, television and print. There must be something in the plot device which touches an unconscious part of us. It's a bit feelgood; it's a bit dreadful. It engages us all. Is Odyseus going to get home? What will happen to his wife and son? What would I do?

So, read it first for the story. And surprise yourself at how well you recognise the motivations and actions of characters placed in these situations over 2700 years ago. We haven't changed much, have we?

Then read it again.

This time, read it for the world of Odysseus. For what it tells you about the way we lived in a pre-literate, feudal society where any kind of progress was hard-won and very easily lost. Read it for the similes and metaphors Homer uses to describe things and events to an audience to make them come alive and be real to them. What do they tell you about the world back then? What do they tell you about the experiences of the audience and how would they feel, contrasting their life with that of this epic tale?

Read it for the insight into man's relationship with the gods. How did the ancient audience perceive them? Were they beings to be feared and propitiated? Wasn't that what kings were, too? Was there something more in the relationship between Odysseus and Athene? Something a little more human? Hmmmm.

Every page has something new to tell us about this now lost world. Look carefully and you can see stuff about the role of women in Homeric society; there's stuff about the etiquette and meaning of gift-giving in there. There's even stuff about how economics worked all those years ago. In fact, if you look closely enough (and stare at a few vase paintings as well) you can make an entire academic career out of this book.

But that would be missing the point.

Read it (at least) twice. It's got to be the best fiver you'll ever spend.



Good introduction to 'new' ideas in culture, 18 Nov 2008
Subjects such as literature and the history of art have undergone a revolution since the 1970s or thereabouts as many theories and techniques from other disciplines are now routinely used as approaches to discuss text.

This book contains a discussion of all the usual ideas e.g. Marxist, Semiotics, psychoanalysis, gender and so on.

I agree that some of these approaches may give one additional insight into a book or picture. I am sometimes sceptical of the use made of these ideas by some critics though and feel that in the wrong hands they can lead to some bizarre and patently wrong interpretations. I think that they should only supplement and perhaps correct traditional approaches rather than replace them altogether.

A Useful Text, 18 Aug 2006
This book has some great summary sections which are invaluable when revising and trying to learn key points of each theory. However Barry does tend to 'waffle' a bit in places, sometimes making it difficult to understand and there are some errors in the book itself. But it is definately worth getting for the summaries alone, but make sure it is supported by another text.

Great book, 29 Mar 2006
As a student at Peter Barry's institution, The University of Wales, Aberystwyth I was pleased to find that one of my own tutors had written an accessible alternative to Rivkin and Ryan. This work serves as a fantastic introduction to literary theory and will please beginners and pros alike.

5 Stars!, 04 Nov 2004
Peter Barry's book is very inspiring to read. I have brought many books to help grasp an understanding on literary theory but I have to say none have explained it quite as well as Peter Barry. Beginning Theory: An Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory covers a wide range of areas, the language is simplistic and each theory is explained clearly and with examples. I have also gained a much better understanding on how Freudian interpretation works. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! WORTH EVERY PENNY!!!

Book covers:
Liberal Humanism, Structuralism, Post-structuralism and deconstruction, Postmodernism, Psychoanalytic criticism, Feminist criticism, Lesbian/Gay criticism, Marxist criticism, New historicism and cultural materialism, Postcolonial criticism, Stylistics, Narratology and Ecocriticism.

an excellent introduction/refresher course, 22 Sep 2003
This book provides a great introduction to the world of theory which often confuses first year literature students and puts them off the study of english. It explains, unlike other texts, how the concept of theory emerges. As a postgrad student, I was aware I needed to brush up on the dreaded theory so I picked up this introduction, and was pleasantly surprised. So much more accessible than Rivkin and Ryan!

Shocking, gripping . . . , 29 Mar 2007
I had read - and dismissed - Antigone in high school. Like many of the books I dismissed in my adolescence, it's actually heartbreakingly brilliant. Fagles' translation is beautiful and moving, contemporizing the language without destroying meaning or stretching plausibility to cater for short-attention spans. I found myself circling passages and it's not even part of my University reading list this semester. Reading something like these plays really reminds you how absolutely desolate Hollywood and Theatreland have become these days - almost nothing compares with Sophocles, and even the best of modern literature owes so much to the ancient masters that reading them inevitably changes the way you read everything else. Who can blame Freud for feeling so inspired?
As for Bernard Knox's introductions, I found they ellucidated the subtle nuances of the plays and enriched my reading experience, all while being riveting reads on their own. Perhaps even worth the price of the book alone, particularly the one introducing Oedipus the King.

You must read Oedipus once in your life!, 26 Jul 2006
A seminal work of both literature and theatre, Oedipus still haunts us. Academics argue still over the 'meaning' of Oedipus: is he guilty? is he simply blind? what's the truth of the relationship between him and his mother Jocasta? If we could ever answer all these questions the play would lose its power and drop out of the canon. Read it in this excellent translation and make up your own mind.

Antigone has been reinterpreted repeatedly: as a feminist play, as a play about political oppression, as a play about a dysfunctional family. Antigone may be a difficult character to sympathise with or understand, but the poetry of the drama excels even that of Oedipus (especially the eerie, haunting 'hymn to Dionysus').

More human than Aeschylus, more stately than Euripides, the greatest tragedy is that only seven of Sophocles plays have come donw to us, and these 2 are the best.

Poetic and harrowing, 23 Mar 2005
Many readers would dismiss classical literature as staid and impenetrable. They couldn't be more wrong and this translation of the Theban Plays proves it. The powerful story of the destruction of a family is told with incredible pace and verve: Oedipus lacks awareness but longs for it and faces the blistering consequences of his straight questions; he and his daughter Antigone are reduced to homelessness and poverty; Antigone, alone eventually, is criminalized for her refusal to compromise to state law. These dramas of individuals facing the often irreversible consequences of their uncompromising actions will always be relevant. This touching, powerful translation in contemporary English is the most accessible to new readers.

Not nice reading, but worth it!, 27 May 2003
Like one of the other reviewers of this book, I only read it because I was studying it at school. However, like them, I came to appreciate the book on its own merits. The suspense in Oedipus Rex is almost unbearable, and it stands out as one of the best plays of all time in my view. The play has a ending to compare with some of the goriest tv murders, as well as having a rather distasteful theme of unwitting incest.

Unfortuantely, the downside to this book is that it contains "Antigone" and "Oedipus at Colonus". While "...Colonus" is moderately entertaining, Antigone is an annoying character due to her extreme stubborness. However, this is saved by the sheer quality of Sophocles' writing. This translation also has notes at the end, to help new readers to undrstand some of the more obscure references.

The greatest plays by any ancient author, 04 Apr 2001
These three plays are the best you'll come across. The finest tragedies ever written.They are also quite controversial for todays standards with some complex inbreeding.A must for anyone of any age. If you know nothing about the Ancient world you'll see it for the controversy, and if you know all about the ancient world you'll know that it surpasses any other work by any other author

Absolutely brilliant!!!, 16 Apr 2008
This book is worth its weight in gold for anyone who needs to write essays and I have recommended it to many of my friends. I have always been able to write decent enough essays, getting A grade GCSEs and A/ B grade Alevels, but my undergraduate essays never quite seemed to reach the top marks. I couldn't quite understand this though because I always got top marks for my scientific reports, literature reviews, and exams yet my essays never seemed to go above a 2:1. If I put in a huge amount of effort I would be able to reach a high 2:1, while hardly any effort would get me a low 2:1, I just couldn't seem to break out of it! That was until I read this book.

This book was an absolute delight to read. It is extremely well written, interesting and engaging. To be honest, I just couldn't put it down. It was as though everything clicked into place for me - I could see exactly where I'd been going wrong. The book breaks down the process of essay writing into steps starting from how to think about essay questions, how to make notes and read background material, right through to writing style and proof reading. It is broken down in a way which is easy to follow and apply. But more than just improving your essays, this book provides advise on how to think more creatively - so you can reach those 1st class grades. However good your essays currently are, Greethams book will undoubtedly improve them, and I would reccommend it to every undergraduate!

Before I read this book I always found essay writing a laborious and painful process which I usually procrastinated about and spent many days dreading having to actually get down and do. This book actually made the whole process of essay writing much more enjoyable, and actually much quicker. My essays now take much less time (from background reading to final draft), get better marks, and are more enjoyable to write - what more could any student want. The first essay I wrote after finishing this book got a 1st, and I have never got anything less than a 1st for any essay since.

It is now nearly 2 years since I read this book and I have recently graduated (with a 1st). I deceided to write this review because I feel so indebted to Greetham's book for transforming my academic experience.

The only guide you need for essays, 01 Jan 2008
Having been stuggling to find a good guide to essay writing my prayers were answered when i happen to stubble across this one. 'How to write better essays' is everything you need to know to write better essays from time management, researching, structure etc... Easy to read and filled with practical exercises to help build up your skills. Love this quide!

It worked for me., 08 Oct 2007
This is a good book that is packed with useful advice that really makes a difference. We were told to buy a really useless book that was supposed to make you better at legal reasoning and essay writing but it was a total waste of time so I bought this book instead and it has really made my marks better. It was a bit dull in places and there could have been a bit more effort made to make the whole thing easier to follow but the results make it worth the effort of ploughing through it as you end up with all sorts of ideas about how to make your work better. It worked for me.

How to write better essays., 09 Feb 2006
This book is horribly unengaging. It is difficult to simply pick up and read because the boring nature of the subject is presented in dull, lifeless format.

The content is superb if you persevere; greetham goes into great depth from interpreting the essay title through to presentation. I have improved from low 60's to high 60's over christmas in my second year of a degree from using this book.

So; if you do not need visual stimulus to keep you engaged then this is for you.

my grades went from C's to A's..., 06 Jan 2006
If you've only written essays at GCSE or A level then it can be a huge leap into a different territory when you begin writing undergraduate level assignments. This book fills in the gaps in a totally accessible way and is suitable for all study levels.
After reading it and putting the techniques into practice my grades went from C's to A's - need I say more!

Better left at sea, 27 Jun 2008
I thought this book would be great, an interesting adventure and my first step into the literary world of greek classics. But after this, I am not rushing out to buy another greek classic.

The story is good, and the interesting mythological creatures and encounters are what kept me reading it. The characters make a square look less two dimensional and I can't, in all honesty, say I liked the good ones. I found Odysseus very arrogant and the gods hypocritical and the actions of them morally questionable. The style was also patronizing in places, by always addressing characters with an adjective describing their character, which we should make our own minds about, and not be force fed what we should think of them.

Perhaps if I was born at the time this was written, I might have enjoyed it more, however, in this century, I can't understand what is particularly good about it as a piece of literature. Therefore, for a good novel in its own right, avoid this.

Excellent story but hard to read, 18 Nov 2007
I recently finished this book and although I thoroughly enjoyed it, I also found it hard to read. I read this book regularly but often couldn't remember what I had just read. I would also end up re-reading paragraphs I had read only minutes before, as I couldn't remember reading them at all! The funny thing however, is that I could tell you exactly what happens in the correct order so clearly it was being absorbed. This appears to be a problem that affected only myself however, so maybe the style of writing wasn't quite suited to me.

If you have an interest in Classics or are working your way through the classic novels (such as myself), I highly recommend this book. I can guarantee that you will really enjoy it.

The Odyssey in 24 words, 03 Sep 2007
Mediterranean cruise with divine beauties and blind shepherds, swine and swingers, Scylla and Charybdis and Hades minitour. With wife at home taking double turns.

A classic at its best, 13 Aug 2007
The Odyssey covers the twenty years Odysseus is away from his family and friends in Ithica. The first ten years or so are spent in Troy where he fights on the side of the Greeks against the Trojans (see The Iliad) and concieves the idea of the famous "wooden horse". The remainder of his time away is spent on an ill-fated journey home where he looses all of his crew at various stages.

The main cause of delay is due to Poseidan the Earth-Shaker after he blinds his son, Cyclops Polyphemus. He is then detained by Circe (a demi-Goddess who is a witch). After an incident where she turns some of his crew into pigs, she sends him to the Underworld to speak to the seer Teiresias to learn how to return homw. After he leaves he faces the Sirens and the monsters Scylla and Charybdis who carry off some of his crew. The rest of his crew are killed after eating the Sun-Gods cattle on the island Thrinacia as punnishment. Odysseus is then detained 7 more years on the island of Ogygia where he washes up by Calypso. She is trying to get him to marry her and become immortal.

Eventally he gets back to his homeland with a little help from the Phaeacians and the Goddess Athena disguises him. While he has been away his wife has been beset by suitors who are trying to win her hand (assuming Odysseus is dead) in marriage and are treating his house and son Telemachus with disresect. Eventually father and son team up to kill all the suitors and all are finally reunited.

I really enjoyed this book, more so than The Iliad. I definately recommend reading The Iliad and then The Odyssey, not just because it makes sense chronologically but also because this is a more enjoyable story. The only problem I really had was that poor sensible Penelope is never consulted or trusted by her son or husband. Telemachus runs off and doesn't tell her and then Odysseus returns and tells his son and old nurse, but not his wife who has spent the last twenty years crying and mourning his loss. Pretty heartless really!

Read this twice...., 16 Jan 2007
The first time, read it for the tale.

The tale of the wandering of Odysseus and the trials, tribulations and adventures that befall him as he attempts to return to his rocky Ithaca and Penelope of the shapely ankles. It's a rollicking read. You'll be reminded of snippets of Sindbad, Aladdin, Watership Down, Captain Corelli's bloody Mandolin and so many other later works that involve a "homecoming". But this was the first.

The first time these stories about men, gods and monsters were all pulled together into a pretty coherent narrative. Most of the sub-tales such as Odysseus' trip into Hell, his encounter with monsters such as Polyphemus the Cyclops and the Harpies; with Proteus, the Sirens and the witch Circe were all probably part of a repetoire of tales delivered by the local poet/entertainer long before someone called Homer grabbed the posthumous glory by having them ascribed to him.

Homecomings are still a pretty popular genre in film, television and print. There must be something in the plot device which touches an unconscious part of us. It's a bit feelgood; it's a bit dreadful. It engages us all. Is Odyseus going to get home? What will happen to his wife and son? What would I do?

So, read it first for the story. And surprise yourself at how well you recognise the motivations and actions of characters placed in these situations over 2700 years ago. We haven't changed much, have we?

Then read it again.

This time, read it for the world of Odysseus. For what it tells you about the way we lived in a pre-literate, feudal society where any kind of progress was hard-won and very easily lost. Read it for the similes and metaphors Homer uses to describe things and events to an audience to make them come alive and be real to them. What do they tell you about the world back then? What do they tell you about the experiences of the audience and how would they feel, contrasting their life with that of this epic tale?

Read it for the insight into man's relationship with the gods. How did the ancient audience perceive them? Were they beings to be feared and propitiated? Wasn't that what kings were, too? Was there something more in the relationship between Odysseus and Athene? Something a little more human? Hmmmm.

Every page has something new to tell us about this now lost world. Look carefully and you can see stuff about the role of women in Homeric society; there's stuff about the etiquette and meaning of gift-giving in there. There's even stuff about how economics worked all those years ago. In fact, if you look closely enough (and stare at a few vase paintings as well) you can make an entire academic career out of this book.

But that would be missing the point.

Read it (at least) twice. It's got to be the best fiver you'll ever spend.



Good introduction to 'new' ideas in culture, 18 Nov 2008
Subjects such as literature and the history of art have undergone a revolution since the 1970s or thereabouts as many theories and techniques from other disciplines are now routinely used as approaches to discuss text.

This book contains a discussion of all the usual ideas e.g. Marxist, Semiotics, psychoanalysis, gender and so on.

I agree that some of these approaches may give one additional insight into a book or picture. I am sometimes sceptical of the use made of these ideas by some critics though and feel that in the wrong hands they can lead to some bizarre and patently wrong interpretations. I think that they should only supplement and perhaps correct traditional approaches rather than replace them altogether.

A Useful Text, 18 Aug 2006
This book has some great summary sections which are invaluable when revising and trying to learn key points of each theory. However Barry does tend to 'waffle' a bit in places, sometimes making it difficult to understand and there are some errors in the book itself. But it is definately worth getting for the summaries alone, but make sure it is supported by another text.

Great book, 29 Mar 2006
As a student at Peter Barry's institution, The University of Wales, Aberystwyth I was pleased to find that one of my own tutors had written an accessible alternative to Rivkin and Ryan. This work serves as a fantastic introduction to literary theory and will please beginners and pros alike.

5 Stars!, 04 Nov 2004
Peter Barry's book is very inspiring to read. I have brought many books to help grasp an understanding on literary theory but I have to say none have explained it quite as well as Peter Barry. Beginning Theory: An Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory covers a wide range of areas, the language is simplistic and each theory is explained clearly and with examples. I have also gained a much better understanding on how Freudian interpretation works. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! WORTH EVERY PENNY!!!

Book covers:
Liberal Humanism, Structuralism, Post-structuralism and deconstruction, Postmodernism, Psychoanalytic criticism, Feminist criticism, Lesbian/Gay criticism, Marxist criticism, New historicism and cultural materialism, Postcolonial criticism, Stylistics, Narratology and Ecocriticism.

an excellent introduction/refresher course, 22 Sep 2003
This book provides a great introduction to the world of theory which often confuses first year literature students and puts them off the study of english. It explains, unlike other texts, how the concept of theory emerges. As a postgrad student, I was aware I needed to brush up on the dreaded theory so I picked up this introduction, and was pleasantly surprised. So much more accessible than Rivkin and Ryan!

Shocking, gripping . . . , 29 Mar 2007
I had read - and dismissed - Antigone in high school. Like many of the books I dismissed in my adolescence, it's actually heartbreakingly brilliant. Fagles' translation is beautiful and moving, contemporizing the language without destroying meaning or stretching plausibility to cater for short-attention spans. I found myself circling passages and it's not even part of my University reading list this semester. Reading something like these plays really reminds you how absolutely desolate Hollywood and Theatreland have become these days - almost nothing compares with Sophocles, and even the best of modern literature owes so much to the ancient masters that reading them inevitably changes the way you read everything else. Who can blame Freud for feeling so inspired?
As for Bernard Knox's introductions, I found they ellucidated the subtle nuances of the plays and enriched my reading experience, all while being riveting reads on their own. Perhaps even worth the price of the book alone, particularly the one introducing Oedipus the King.

You must read Oedipus once in your life!, 26 Jul 2006
A seminal work of both literature and theatre, Oedipus still haunts us. Academics argue still over the 'meaning' of Oedipus: is he guilty? is he simply blind? what's the truth of the relationship between him and his mother Jocasta? If we could ever answer all these questions the play would lose its power and drop out of the canon. Read it in this excellent translation and make up your own mind.

Antigone has been reinterpreted repeatedly: as a feminist play, as a play about political oppression, as a play about a dysfunctional family. Antigone may be a difficult character to sympathise with or understand, but the poetry of the drama excels even that of Oedipus (especially the eerie, haunting 'hymn to Dionysus').

More human than Aeschylus, more stately than Euripides, the greatest tragedy is that only seven of Sophocles plays have come donw to us, and these 2 are the best.

Poetic and harrowing, 23 Mar 2005
Many readers would dismiss classical literature as staid and impenetrable. They couldn't be more wrong and this translation of the Theban Plays proves it. The powerful story of the destruction of a family is told with incredible pace and verve: Oedipus lacks awareness but longs for it and faces the blistering consequences of his straight questions; he and his daughter Antigone are reduced to homelessness and poverty; Antigone, alone eventually, is criminalized for her refusal to compromise to state law. These dramas of individuals facing the often irreversible consequences of their uncompromising actions will always be relevant. This touching, powerful translation in contemporary English is the most accessible to new readers.

Not nice reading, but worth it!, 27 May 2003
Like one of the other reviewers of this book, I only read it because I was studying it at school. However, like them, I came to appreciate the book on its own merits. The suspense in Oedipus Rex is almost unbearable, and it stands out as one of the best plays of all time in my view. The play has a ending to compare with some of the goriest tv murders, as well as having a rather distasteful theme of unwitting incest.

Unfortuantely, the downside to this book is that it contains "Antigone" and "Oedipus at Colonus". While "...Colonus" is moderately entertaining, Antigone is an annoying character due to her extreme stubborness. However, this is saved by the sheer quality of Sophocles' writing. This translation also has notes at the end, to help new readers to undrstand some of the more obscure references.

The greatest plays by any ancient author, 04 Apr 2001
These three plays are the best you'll come across. The finest tragedies ever written.They are also quite controversial for todays standards with some complex inbreeding.A must for anyone of any age. If you know nothing about the Ancient world you'll see it for the controversy, and if you know all about the ancient world you'll know that it surpasses any other work by any other author

Penguin have destroyed a classic, 26 Sep 2008
To be quite honest its hardly worth them calling this the Iliad. They have ripped the poetic beauty of this Epic and condensed it into a dusty and boring prose. No one ever consider changing Shakespeares or Byrons poems into novels; why why why have they treated Homer so abominably. This is not an epic anymore and resebles in no way the sonourous verse of Homer. If you want to read a decent version of one of the best poems written, read a differnet translation. I suggest Robert Fagles his translations of the Iliad and the Odyssey are wonderful and capture all the poetic force of Homer. Please do not waste your money on this pathetic rendition of a wonderful poem.

Buy this book, 17 Mar 2007
This story began to circulate as part of an oral tradition around 3000 years ago. It is based on the military values of the Greeks and espouses the issues of valour, bravey, and honour that were an integral part of society in the ancient Greek world, and in numerous centuries of previous generations. Achilles, although considered a hero by the Greeks, shuns participation in the fighting because of a desire to protect his honour. Hector experiences numerous sucesses in leading campaigns against the Greeks but is eventually defeated when Achilles re-joins the war and uses his influence with the gods to defeat him. This text epitomizes the iniquities and uncertainties of war. If you read past the mythical fairytale of gods and heroes then you can truely understand the terrifying experiences of hand-to-hand combat that men faced in the ancient world. You can understand the bitterness involved in conflict and the pain experienced by compatriates of the casualties of war. The issues involved in this book are timeless and even in the age of modern combat the pain that radiates around them remains.

The rise of Western literature, 17 Feb 2005
The subject of this book may not have been seen as something new. Since hundreds of stories and tales had been already told and written down by the time that Homerus started this one which where very similar in style and storyline. So what is that makes Iliad so special.

Well for one thing it is the first real work of Western literature but that doesn't make it great does it?

No the thing that makes this piece of work is first of all some of the ideas that are hidden behind it which where very radical at the time that this story first occurred. The most important one of them from my point of view is the fact that in this story war isn't seen as something glorious as it was still seen by many in those days (and sadly enough still is seen by many in our time.) The mane hero of this story Achilles is even trying to avoid its horrors during the whole of the story. Some of the actions in the course of story aren't even heroic but rather degrading for the characters in the story. Like for instance the night attack in book 10.

Second of all Homer is the guy who helped to shape the whole Greek religion by giving the Gods background stories and explaining their connections whit each other. And giving them numerous human qualities like the fact that they are forced to eat, drink and sleep. They show human emotions like hatred, love and pain.

Homerus has also asked us a very important question during the coarse of this book namely what is ones life worth? What is friendship worth?

And finally he has delivered us a human tragedy which remains relevant even although ages have passed by between its creation and Homer himself has fallen into oblivions for the only thing known about him remain his works and we aren't even certain wheatear he has written them.

So don't hesitate about whether to purchase this book (or borrow it from your local library). And as for the translation although it is over 50 years in age it is surprisingly modern and easy to read (although I have doubts about the added in my opinion completely useless notes and arguments.)

Thousands of years old, and still relevent, 27 May 2003
There are many theories and arguements over did Homer actually tell the story or was is someone else, or many people etc - but it doesnt taint the powerful story that the Illiad is.
It is a good book because the themes addressed are still relevent to todays society, especially at this time of war and conflict in the world. It is a tale about war, and how it affects the human mind. The world was a beautiful, peaceful place untill the Trojan war started over just one girl, and the honour she represents - and now the war has been fought for so long, it looks like that the war will not only kill people, warriors, women and children, but will kill a civilisation and destruct a way of life and serenity that will never be felt again by anyone. But the gods remain as aloof as ever before.
This tale of Achilles and the war is powerful, and the touching moments of Hector and Andromache, or the lonely death of Patroclus will make even the coldest heart cry out.
So let out a wild war cry - let the gods meddle with your world and let this powerful poem overwhelm you

Absolutely brilliant!!!, 16 Apr 2008
This book is worth its weight in gold for anyone who needs to write essays and I have recommended it to many of my friends. I have always been able to write decent enough essays, getting A grade GCSEs and A/ B grade Alevels, but my undergraduate essays never quite seemed to reach the top marks. I couldn't quite understand this though because I always got top marks for my scientific reports, literature reviews, and exams yet my essays never seemed to go above a 2:1. If I put in a huge amount of effort I would be able to reach a high 2:1, while hardly any effort would get me a low 2:1, I just couldn't seem to break out of it! That was until I read this book.

This book was an absolute delight to read. It is extremely well written, interesting and engaging. To be honest, I just couldn't put it down. It was as though everything clicked into place for me - I could see exactly where I'd been going wrong. The book breaks down the process of essay writing into steps starting from how to think about essay questions, how to make notes and read background material, right through to writing style and proof reading. It is broken down in a way which is easy to follow and apply. But more than just improving your essays, this book provides advise on how to think more creatively - so you can reach those 1st class grades. However good your essays currently are, Greethams book will undoubtedly improve them, and I would reccommend it to every undergraduate!

Before I read this book I always found essay writing a laborious and painful process which I usually procrastinated about and spent many days dreading having to actually get down and do. This book actually made the whole process of essay writing much more enjoyable, and actually much quicker. My essays now take much less time (from background reading to final draft), get better marks, and are more enjoyable to write - what more could any student want. The first essay I wrote after finishing this book got a 1st, and I have never got anything less than a 1st for any essay since.

It is now nearly 2 years since I read this book and I have recently graduated (with a 1st). I deceided to write this review because I feel so indebted to Greetham's book for transforming my academic experience.

The only guide you need for essays, 01 Jan 2008
Having been stuggling to find a good guide to essay writing my prayers were answered when i happen to stubble across this one. 'How to write better essays' is everything you need to know to write better essays from time management, researching, structure etc... Easy to read and filled with practical exercises to help build up your skills. Love this quide!

It worked for me., 08 Oct 2007
This is a good book that is packed with useful advice that really makes a difference. We were told to buy a really useless book that was supposed to make you better at legal reasoning and essay writing but it was a total waste of time so I bought this book instead and it has really made my marks better. It was a bit dull in places and there could have been a bit more effort made to make the whole thing easier to follow but the results make it worth the effort of ploughing through it as you end up with all sorts of ideas about how to make your work better. It worked for me.

How to write better essays., 09 Feb 2006
This book is horribly unengaging. It is difficult to simply pick up and read because the boring nature of the subject is presented in dull, lifeless format.

The content is superb if you persevere; greetham goes into great depth from interpreting the essay title through to presentation. I have improved from low 60's to high 60's over christmas in my second year of a degree from using this book.

So; if you do not need visual stimulus to keep you engaged then this is for you.

my grades went from C's to A's..., 06 Jan 2006
If you've only written essays at GCSE or A level then it can be a huge leap into a different territory when you begin writing undergraduate level assignments. This book fills in the gaps in a totally accessible way and is suitable for all study levels.
After reading it and putting the techniques into practice my grades went from C's to A's - need I say more!

Better left at sea, 27 Jun 2008
I thought this book would be great, an interesting adventure and my first step into the literary world of greek classics. But after this, I am not rushing out to buy another greek classic.

The story is good, and the interesting mythological creatures and encounters are what kept me reading it. The characters make a square look less two dimensional and I can't, in all honesty, say I liked the good ones. I found Odysseus very arrogant and the gods hypocritical and the actions of them morally questionable. The style was also patronizing in places, by always addressing characters with an adjective describing their character, which we should make our own minds about, and not be force fed what we should think of them.

Perhaps if I was born at the time this was written, I might have enjoyed it more, however, in this century, I can't understand what is particularly good about it as a piece of literature. Therefore, for a good novel in its own right, avoid this.

Excellent story but hard to read, 18 Nov 2007
I recently finished this book and although I thoroughly enjoyed it, I also found it hard to read. I read this book regularly but often couldn't remember what I had just read. I would also end up re-reading paragraphs I had read only minutes before, as I couldn't remember reading them at all! The funny thing however, is that I could tell you exactly what happens in the correct order so clearly it was being absorbed. This appears to be a problem that affected only myself however, so maybe the style of writing wasn't quite suited to me.

If you have an interest in Classics or are working your way through the classic novels (such as myself), I highly recommend this book. I can guarantee that you will really enjoy it.

The Odyssey in 24 words, 03 Sep 2007
Mediterranean cruise with divine beauties and blind shepherds, swine and swingers, Scylla and Charybdis and Hades minitour. With wife at home taking double turns.

A classic at its best, 13 Aug 2007
The Odyssey covers the twenty years Odysseus is away from his family and friends in Ithica. The first ten years or so are spent in Troy where he fights on the side of the Greeks against the Trojans (see The Iliad) and concieves the idea of the famous "wooden horse". The remainder of his time away is spent on an ill-fated journey home where he looses all of his crew at various stages.

The main cause of delay is due to Poseidan the Earth-Shaker after he blinds his son, Cyclops Polyphemus. He is then detained by Circe (a demi-Goddess who is a witch). After an incident where she turns some of his crew into pigs, she sends him to the Underworld to speak to the seer Teiresias to learn how to return homw. After he leaves he faces the Sirens and the monsters Scylla and Charybdis who carry off some of his crew. The rest of his crew are killed after eating the Sun-Gods cattle on the island Thrinacia as punnishment. Odysseus is then detained 7 more years on the island of Ogygia where he washes up by Calypso. She is trying to get him to marry her and become immortal.

Eventally he gets back to his homeland with a little help from the Phaeacians and the Goddess Athena disguises him. While he has been away his wife has been beset by suitors who are trying to win her hand (assuming Odysseus is dead) in marriage and are treating his house and son Telemachus with disresect. Eventually father and son team up to kill all the suitors and all are finally reunited.

I really enjoyed this book, more so than The Iliad. I definately recommend reading The Iliad and then The Odyssey, not just because it makes sense chronologically but also because this is a more enjoyable story. The only problem I really had was that poor sensible Penelope is never consulted or trusted by her son or husband. Telemachus runs off and doesn't tell her and then Odysseus returns and tells his son and old nurse, but not his wife who has spent the last twenty years crying and mourning his loss. Pretty heartless really!

Read this twice...., 16 Jan 2007
The first time, read it for the tale.

The tale of the wandering of Odysseus and the trials, tribulations and adventures that befall him as he attempts to return to his rocky Ithaca and Penelope of the shapely ankles. It's a rollicking read. You'll be reminded of snippets of Sindbad, Aladdin, Watership Down, Captain Corelli's bloody Mandolin and so many other later works that involve a "homecoming". But this was the first.

The first time these stories about men, gods and monsters were all pulled together into a pretty coherent narrative. Most of the sub-tales such as Odysseus' trip into Hell, his encounter with monsters such as Polyphemus the Cyclops and the Harpies; with Proteus, the Sirens and the witch Circe were all probably part of a repetoire of tales delivered by the local poet/entertainer long before someone called Homer grabbed the posthumous glory by having them ascribed to him.

Homecomings are still a pretty popular genre in film, television and print. There must be something in the plot device which touches an unconscious part of us. It's a bit feelgood; it's a bit dreadful. It engages us all. Is Odyseus going to get home? What will happen to his wife and son? What would I do?

So, read it first for the story. And surprise yourself at how well you recognise the motivations and actions of characters placed in these situations over 2700 years ago. We haven't changed much, have we?

Then read it again.

This time, read it for the world of Odysseus. For what it tells you about the way we lived in a pre-literate, feudal society where any kind of progress was hard-won and very easily lost. Read it for the similes and metaphors Homer uses to describe things and events to an audience to make them come alive and be real to them. What do they tell you about the world back then? What do they tell you about the experiences of the audience and how would they feel, contrasting their life with that of this epic tale?

Read it for the insight into man's relationship with the gods. How did the ancient audience perceive them? Were they beings to be feared and propitiated? Wasn't that what kings were, too? Was there something more in the relationship between Odysseus and Athene? Something a little more human? Hmmmm.

Every page has something new to tell us about this now lost world. Look carefully and you can see stuff about the role of women in Homeric society; there's stuff about the etiquette and meaning of gift-giving in there. There's even stuff about how economics worked all those years ago. In fact, if you look closely enough (and stare at a few vase paintings as well) you can make an entire academic career out of this book.

But that would be missing the point.

Read it (at least) twice. It's got to be the best fiver you'll ever spend.



Good introduction to 'new' ideas in culture, 18 Nov 2008
Subjects such as literature and the history of art have undergone a revolution since the 1970s or thereabouts as many theories and techniques from other disciplines are now routinely used as approaches to discuss text.

This book contains a discussion of all the usual ideas e.g. Marxist, Semiotics, psychoanalysis, gender and so on.

I agree that some of these approaches may give one additional insight into a book or picture. I am sometimes sceptical of the use made of these ideas by some critics though and feel that in the wrong hands they can lead to some bizarre and patently wrong interpretations. I think that they should only supplement and perhaps correct traditional approaches rather than replace them altogether.

A Useful Text, 18 Aug 2006
This book has some great summary sections which are invaluable when revising and trying to learn key points of each theory. However Barry does tend to 'waffle' a bit in places, sometimes making it difficult to understand and there are some errors in the book itself. But it is definately worth getting for the summaries alone, but make sure it is supported by another text.

Great book, 29 Mar 2006
As a student at Peter Barry's institution, The University of Wales, Aberystwyth I was pleased to find that one of my own tutors had written an accessible alternative to Rivkin and Ryan. This work serves as a fantastic introduction to literary theory and will please beginners and pros alike.

5 Stars!, 04 Nov 2004
Peter Barry's book is very inspiring to read. I have brought many books to help grasp an understanding on literary theory but I have to say none have explained it quite as well as Peter Barry. Beginning Theory: An Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory covers a wide range of areas, the language is simplistic and each theory is explained clearly and with examples. I have also gained a much better understanding on how Freudian interpretation works. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! WORTH EVERY PENNY!!!

Book covers:
Liberal Humanism, Structuralism, Post-structuralism and deconstruction, Postmodernism, Psychoanalytic criticism, Feminist criticism, Lesbian/Gay criticism, Marxist criticism, New historicism and cultural materialism, Postcolonial criticism, Stylistics, Narratology and Ecocriticism.

an excellent introduction/refresher course, 22 Sep 2003
This book provides a great introduction to the world of theory which often confuses first year literature students and puts them off the study of english. It explains, unlike other texts, how the concept of theory emerges. As a postgrad student, I was aware I needed to brush up on the dreaded theory so I picked up this introduction, and was pleasantly surprised. So much more accessible than Rivkin and Ryan!

Shocking, gripping . . . , 29 Mar 2007
I had read - and dismissed - Antigone in high school. Like many of the books I dismissed in my adolescence, it's actually heartbreakingly brilliant. Fagles' translation is beautiful and moving, contemporizing the language without destroying meaning or stretching plausibility to cater for short-attention spans. I found myself circling passages and it's not even part of my University reading list this semester. Reading something like these plays really reminds you how absolutely desolate Hollywood and Theatreland have become these days - almost nothing compares with Sophocles, and even the best of modern literature owes so much to the ancient masters that reading them inevitably changes the way you read everything else. Who can blame Freud for feeling so inspired?
As for Bernard Knox's introductions, I found they ellucidated the subtle nuances of the plays and enriched my reading experience, all while being riveting reads on their own. Perhaps even worth the price of the book alone, particularly the one introducing Oedipus the King.

You must read Oedipus once in your life!, 26 Jul 2006
A seminal work of both literature and theatre, Oedipus still haunts us. Academics argue still over the 'meaning' of Oedipus: is he guilty? is he simply blind? what's the truth of the relationship between him and his mother Jocasta? If we could ever answer all these questions the play would lose its power and drop out of the canon. Read it in this excellent translation and make up your own mind.

Antigone has been reinterpreted repeatedly: as a feminist play, as a play about political oppression, as a play about a dysfunctional family. Antigone may be a difficult character to sympathise with or understand, but the poetry of the drama excels even that of Oedipus (especially the eerie, haunting 'hymn to Dionysus').

More human than Aeschylus, more stately than Euripides, the greatest tragedy is that only seven of Sophocles plays have come donw to us, and these 2 are the best.

Poetic and harrowing, 23 Mar 2005
Many readers would dismiss classical literature as staid and impenetrable. They couldn't be more wrong and this translation of the Theban Plays proves it. The powerful story of the destruction of a family is told with incredible pace and verve: Oedipus lacks awareness but longs for it and faces the blistering consequences of his straight questions; he and his daughter Antigone are reduced to homelessness and poverty; Antigone, alone eventually, is criminalized for her refusal to compromise to state law. These dramas of individuals facing the often irreversible consequences of their uncompromising actions will always be relevant. This touching, powerful translation in contemporary English is the most accessible to new readers.

Not nice reading, but worth it!, 27 May 2003
Like one of the other reviewers of this book, I only read it because I was studying it at school. However, like them, I came to appreciate the book on its own merits. The suspense in Oedipus Rex is almost unbearable, and it stands out as one of the best plays of all time in my view. The play has a ending to compare with some of the goriest tv murders, as well as having a rather distasteful theme of unwitting incest.

Unfortuantely, the downside to this book is that it contains "Antigone" and "Oedipus at Colonus". While "...Colonus" is moderately entertaining, Antigone is an annoying character due to her extreme stubborness. However, this is saved by the sheer quality of Sophocles' writing. This translation also has notes at the end, to help new readers to undrstand some of the more obscure references.

The greatest plays by any ancient author, 04 Apr 2001
These three plays are the best you'll come across. The finest tragedies ever written.They are also quite controversial for todays standards with some complex inbreeding.A must for anyone of any age. If you know nothing about the Ancient world you'll see it for the controversy, and if you know all about the ancient world you'll know that it surpasses any other work by any other author

Penguin have destroyed a classic, 26 Sep 2008
To be quite honest its hardly worth them calling this the Iliad. They have ripped the poetic beauty of this Epic and condensed it into a dusty and boring prose. No one ever consider changing Shakespeares or Byrons poems into novels; why why why have they treated Homer so abominably. This is not an epic anymore and resebles in no way the sonourous verse of Homer. If you want to read a decent version of one of the best poems written, read a differnet translation. I suggest Robert Fagles his translations of the Iliad and the Odyssey are wonderful and capture all the poetic force of Homer. Please do not waste your money on this pathetic rendition of a wonderful poem.

Buy this book, 17 Mar 2007
This story began to circulate as part of an oral tradition around 3000 years ago. It is based on the military values of the Greeks and espouses the issues of valour, bravey, and honour that were an integral part of society in the ancient Greek world, and in numerous centuries of previous generations. Achilles, although considered a hero by the Greeks, shuns participation in the fighting because of a desire to protect his honour. Hector experiences numerous sucesses in leading campaigns against the Greeks but is eventually defeated when Achilles re-joins the war and uses his influence with the gods to defeat him. This text epitomizes the iniquities and uncertainties of war. If you read past the mythical fairytale of gods and heroes then you can truely understand the terrifying experiences of hand-to-hand combat that men faced in the ancient world. You can understand the bitterness involved in conflict and the pain experienced by compatriates of the casualties of war. The issues involved in this book are timeless and even in the age of modern combat the pain that radiates around them remains.

The rise of Western literature, 17 Feb 2005
The subject of this book may not have been seen as something new. Since hundreds of stories and tales had been already told and written down by the time that Homerus started this one which where very similar in style and storyline. So what is that makes Iliad so special.

Well for one thing it is the first real work of Western literature but that doesn't make it great does it?

No the thing that makes this piece of work is first of all some of the ideas that are hidden behind it which where very radical at the time that this story first occurred. The most important one of them from my point of view is the fact that in this story war isn't seen as something glorious as it was still seen by many in those days (and sadly enough still is seen by many in our time.) The mane hero of this story Achilles is even trying to avoid its horrors during the whole of the story. Some of the actions in the course of story aren't even heroic but rather degrading for the characters in the story. Like for instance the night attack in book 10.

Second of all Homer is the guy who helped to shape the whole Greek religion by giving the Gods background stories and explaining their connections whit each other. And giving them numerous human qualities like the fact that they are forced to eat, drink and sleep. They show human emotions like hatred, love and pain.

Homerus has also asked us a very important question during the coarse of this book namely what is ones life worth? What is friendship worth?

And finally he has delivered us a human tragedy which remains relevant even although ages have passed by between its creation and Homer himself has fallen into oblivion