Condemned to burn in the eighth circle of Dante's Hell, Odysseus, legendary thief and liar of Homer's Odyssey and Iliad, decides he is going to break out. His adventure begins with a prayer to Athena Parthenos, who appears to him bearing gifts: his armor, his famous bow, a mysterious leather pouch, and seven unusual arrows. She then sends him on a quest through the Underworld along with Diomedes, his friend from the Trojan War who had been sharing in his eternal punishment. To complete their escape, the goddess warns them, they must recover their squandered honor and learn to use "the eighth arrow".
At turns exciting, humorous, and edifying, this action-packed epic follows Odysseus and Diomedes as they journey through all the circles of Dante's Hell, where they encounter various characters from Greek mythology, ancient history, and Renaissance literature, including Helen of Troy, Cerberus, Penelope, Homer, Harpies, Centaurs, and eventually Satan himself. With witty banter and wily stratagems, the two Greek warriors fight their way through the obstacles that stand between them and redemption.
The Eighth Arrow is a thoroughly entertaining jailbreak story. Full of allusions to great works of old, it is also gently educational, and as such it can be read as a guide or a companion to Dante's Inferno and the works of Homer.
Fr. J. Augustine Wetta, O.S.B., is a monk of Saint Louis Abbey. He teaches English, classics, and apologetics at the Saint Louis Priory School, where he also coaches rugby. He is the author of Humility Rules and The Eighth Arrow. During his spare time, Father Augustine supervises the Juggling Team, the Mongolian Throat Singing Club, and the Junior Knights of Saint Peter Claver. He cultivates carnivorous plants, raises carpenter ants, builds armor, and surfs. He has earned degrees from Rice University, Middlebury College, and Oxford.
Paperback, 347 pages
