OCR GCSE Classical Civilisation - Literature and Culture

The book describes the site of Mycenae excellently. It covers all the great buildings and structures of the city as well as looking into the aspects of economy and daily life. The sections on pottery and clothing are particularly helpful.

McCabe, R. and Cacouri, A. (2016) Mycenae. New York: Abbeville Press

This book covers some extra areas that the other books do not have, particularly highlighting the work of many important figures in the excavations and interpretations of Mycenaean artefacts. The book has many stunning full-page colour images.

Mylonas, G. (2006) Mycenae. Athens: Ektodike Athenon

This book was written by a former director of excavations at Mycenae. It describes the site of Mycenae more than the daily life and material culture of the city, with the description of the city being clearly divided into its various parts. As it is a guide book, it does not go into excessive detail and has good colour images.

Wardle, K. A. and Wardle, D. (2013) The Mycenaean World. Bristol: Bristol Classical Press

A highly readable and clear book. It covers all the major areas of the syllabus in precise detail. The sections introducing the major sites and the descriptions of burial practices are particularly good.

Homer's Odyssey

Graziosi, B. (2016) Homer. Oxford: Oxford University Press

This book is highly readable. It has excellent sections on the narrative techniques used by Homer, before moving on to consider areas such as the character of Odysseus, focusing particularly on his wily nature. It also has a fine section on the women and monsters of the poem.

Griffin, J. (2010) Homer: The Odyssey. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

It would be very useful to read the opening section of the book on the making of the Odyssey. This complex question is discussed with clarity. The book is then broken down into several small chapters, making it easy to read in small chunks. It has a useful summary of the plot with a paragraph on each book, and good sections on similes, speeches and irony.

Jenkyns, R. (2012) Classical Epic. Bristol: Bristol Classical Press

The book has a very clear discussion of oral poetry and the Homeric question (whether the Odyssey and Iliad were the work of one or many poets) before moving on to discuss the differing pictures of the two halves of the poem. There are good, small sections on the settings of the poem and the question as to whether Penelope recognises the beggar.

Thorpe, M. (2013) Homer. London: Bloomsbury

The book discusses the Odyssey and Iliad in the same chapters. It has a very good chapter on Homer and history, with discussion of the Mycenaean Age and the Mycenaean features in the poem.

York Notes (2001) The Odyssey. London: Longman

Aside from giving a useful summary of each book, this book has excellent sketches of the major characters, and an interesting discussion of Homeric problems and questions, some of which relate the books of the specification. There is also material on narrative techniques and themes such as justice and hospitality.