Homer’s marvelous Iliad covers approximately six weeks in year 10 of the 10-year war, and ends with Hector’s funeral - does not go to the end of the war.
Fry gives a lot of pre-Iliad backstory - founding of Troy and its ups and downs; romance of Paris and Helen; the Greeks deciding to take action after Helen’s abduction; the launch of their boats; developments in first nine years of the war.
Then he covers many of the scenes familiar from the Iliad. Key figures include Agamemnon, Odysseus, Menelaus, Achilles, Ajax, Hector, Priam and many more.
Then Fry goes beyond the time frame of Homer’s Iliad to describe the Trojan horse, destruction of Troy, fates of survivors.
The roles of the various intervening gods throughout this entire arc.
[Laocoon and the serpents. I had completely forgotten this occurred as part of the Trojan war.]
Very enjoyable style - witty, conversational.
Afterword provides more context for Homer, helps me understand what a groundbreaking literary work this was. No matter who wrote it or how it was passed along enroute to being put into writing.
Not a substitute for reading the original, but I rate it as a "can't miss" accompaniment.
