Valerio Massimo Manfredi 
Odysseus 
The Oath

This historical adventure trilogy opener follows an ancient Greek boy as he grows into a legendary hero with a hand in the fall of Troy. As a young boy in Ithaca, Odysseus listens in wonder to his grandfather Autolykos, a man feared by many across the land as a ruthless fighter. He learns of his heritage and a lifelong passion is sparked: to become an adventurer and warrior. In Mycenae, he meets King Eurystheus and learns the terrible story of Hercules-the man with god-like strength who slaughtered his family and was punished by the King to undertake impossible tasks to earn absolution. But is Eurystheus the man he says he is? When a child comes to Odysseus in the middle of the night, with another, very disturbing, version of what happened that fateful night, Odysseus embarks on the first of his extraordinary quests…So begins the epic story of Odysseus, the first of two volumes: an adventure of love, war, courage and heroism, weaving from a small rocky island in Greece, to the mighty fall of Troy.Praise for Odysseus: The Oath"A tantalizing story. . . . This is a beautifully told tale, and fans of novels about the great characters of Greek mythology will relish the story and eagerly await the final volume." -Booklist"If you love the classics, you will enjoy Professor Manfredi’s rendition of the tale of Odysseus. . . . The story is beautifully told. . . . The author’s descriptions of the journey and battles are as exciting as Homer’s (I thought) but softened by Odysseus’ and Penelope’s love story. All in all, a first-rate book that really shouldn’t be missed." -Historical Novel Society