An Unofficial 'The Rest Is History' Reading List
6. Troy
November 23, 2020
Description
Books Referenced
Author: Stephen Fry
Context:
Mentioned as the 'peg' for the episode - 'the all-conquering Leviathan that is Stephen Fry has a new book out on Troy, which tells you everything you need to know about the fascination with it.'
Author: Homer
Context:
Discussed extensively as Homer's account of the Trojan War. Dominic mentions reading a children's version to his son as bedtime reading. The hosts discuss how the Iliad doesn't contain many famous elements like the Trojan horse.
Author: Homer
Context:
Referenced as 'the sequel' to the Iliad, specifically mentioning the scene where 'we meet the ghost of Achilles in the underworld' who regrets choosing a short glorious life.
Author: Herodotus
Context:
Discussed as the first work of history ever written, which 'begins with an account of different people raping each other's women' and rationalizes Helen's abduction.
Author: Thucydides
Context:
Referenced when discussing Thucydides as 'the next great historian who follows after Herodotus' who provided a rationalist perspective on the Trojan War, believing it was about wealth and trade routes rather than Helen.
Author: Euripides
Context:
Described as 'one of the bleakest works of literature ever written,' portraying 'the queens and the princesses of Troy being rounded up after the sack of the city, about to be led off into slavery.'