The Trojan War: A Very Short Introduction is just that: short. Cline (George Washington Univ.) has managed the quite remarkable feat of synthesizing the various archaeological and literary complexities surrounding the Trojan War into a readable 110 pages. He offers readers concise looks at the arguments surrounding everything from the existence of Homer to the Ahhiyawa problem to the real-world interactions of the Hittites, Mycenaeans, and their friends and enemies. Cline also covers the archaeological evidence from both old and new excavations in Greece and Turkey. The author's writing is so clear and his arguments so well structured and complete that this book will appeal to both interested amateurs and those familiar with the extensive literature on this subject. The book features a glossary and fairly complete bibliography as well as a couple of maps of the area and a few illustrations of pertinent material. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries. D. A. Slane University of Maryland University College-Europe