THE WANDERINGS OF ODYSSEUS

In this sequel to Black Ships Before Troy (1993), Sutcliff and Lee dig into Homer's Odyssey, with happy results. Among the volume's virtues is Sutcliff's text, which preserves a certain formality of language, yet remains accessible for the target audience. She does an especially graceful job of winnowing the windy Telemachus section down to its essential elements. All the important episodes are retained; further, the telling makes clear some details that are often vague in other versions. The second major virtue comes through Lee's spectacular paintings, which match and illuminate the text. Beautiful and detailed, with occasional gory bits to draw in readers (and an exposed breast, on the sleeping Princess Nausicaa), the pictures are obviously the result of careful research and reward close scrutiny. A gorgeous book, more than worthy of its predecessor. (Folklore. 10+)