This edition of Homer opens with a summary of the events of the Iliad, the Odyssey, and the mythological background to the Trojan War. Subsequent chapters deal with the traditions of oral poetry; the human society of the poems, the ideal of heroic life, and the position of 'lower classes'; the role of gods; and Homer's skill as a poet, both in his characterization and story-telling techniques. A final chapter considers the historical background to the poems and Homer's influence on the Greeks. All sections are based upon passages from the poems - often quoted at length. This is convenient and serviceable introduction to Homer for beginners: its brief and clearly written sections address most of the areas included in the GCSE Classical Civilisation Homer module, and the text is broken up by appropriate illustrations.