"A vivid and entertaining story in its own right, the Trojan Epic is also particularly significant for what it reveals about its sources - the much older, now lost Greek epics about the Trojan War known collectively as the Epic Cycle. Written during the Homeric era, these poems recounted events not included in the Iliad or the Odyssey. As Alan James makes clear in this new translation, Quintus's work deserves attention for its literary-historical importance and its narrative power. James's line-by-line verse translation in English reveals the original as an exciting and eloquent tale of gods and heroes, bravery and cunning, hubris and brutality. James includes a substantial introduction placing the work in its literary and historical context, an annotated, critical summary of the epic, a detailed commentary addressing sources and other philological issues, and an explanatory index of proper names. Brilliantly revitalized by James, the Trojan Epic will appeal to a wide range of readers interested in Greek mythology and the legend of Troy."--BOOK JACKET.