We Followed Odysseus

Publisher: Seaworthy Publications Inc.,1999 $US29.75

Hal Roth's past as a professional magazine writer ensures that his narrative is readable and interesting. Unlike many cruising descriptions, this story is not a succession of log entries. The aim was to follow the path of Homer's Odysseus from Troy to his home in Ithaca.

The early chapters set the historical context of the story. Thereafter, the description of the present day journey alternates with that of the adventures of Odysseus expounded with journalistic flair. There are many good black and white photographs of the places visited and of ancient historic artefacts. The overall chart of the voyage is on the endpapers and chartlets within the text illustrate greater detail. An extensive bibliography and footnotes will help the curious.

I agree with Hal that The Odyssey was to be enjoyed not dissected. This book shares that aim. I enjoyed both, but I dissected a bit. Having followed the general view in quoting Bradford, who relied on Herodotus and Seylax, he missed Bradford's observation that modern heretics like Schliemann have been proved right. Severin, sailing a reproduction galley rather than a modern yacht is dismissed as going against the views of the ancient world. - PDG