Explore Alfred J. Church books at New West Press.

Alfred J. Church retells major classical epics in prose for younger readers. The Iliad for Boys and Girls introduces the conflict at Troy, The Odyssey for Boys and Girls follows the difficult journey home, and The Aeneid for Boys and Girls carries the story into another legendary voyage and future homeland. These are Church's retellings, rather than the original poems in their original form. Read together or separately, they provide a connected introduction to characters, events, and themes that recur throughout later literature, including homecoming, loyalty, anger, and responsibility.

Myths and legends can be enjoyed as adventures while also opening conversations about a culture's heroes, values, and imagined world. Readers may follow a single episode, trace recurring characters, or compare different versions of a familiar story. Keeping a simple list of names and relationships can make a longer cycle easier to follow. Explore the editions below to begin.