Poison in the Blood (Quick Reads) - Softcover

Tom Holland

3.55

98 ratings by Goodreads

9780349119649: Poison in the Blood (Quick Reads)

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0349119643 ISBN 13: 9780349119649

Publisher: Abacus, 2006

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The book tells the story of the poisoned arrow that shot Paris (as in Helen of Troy). In the beginning, Earth created monsters. One of these was the Hydra. Heracles killed it, then dipped his arrows in the venom of its blood. Years later, when his wife was abducted by a centaur, he killed the rapist with one of these arrows. The dying centaur told Heracles' wife to dip a robe in his blood, and give it to Heracles as a token of her love. Heracles put on the robe, and was burned alive by the poison. He built himself a funeral pyre, but no one would light it. Finally, a small boy named Philoctetes did as Heracles asked, and Heracles left him his arrows as a reward. It was with one of these arrows that Paris was shot. Dying, he was taken into the woods where there lived a goddess who had once loved Paris, and had the power of healing. But she refused to cure him, and sent him away. Repenting, she then hurried after him, but it was too late.

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About the Author:

Tom Holland received a double first from Cambridge. He has adapted Homer, Herodotus, Thucydides and Virgil for BBC Radio. His scholarly style is perfect to reposition him as a writer of non-fiction as well as fiction.

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