Illuminations Literature

When a Roman ship is wrecked off the coast of Britain, an infant, Beric, is the only survivor. He is rescued by a British tribe who raise him as their own until they can no longer ignore his Roman ancestry. Fifteen-year-old Beric feels increasingly bitter isolation when, because of his Roman birth, he is cast out by the Celtic tribe that raised him and, after reaching a Roman settlement, he is sold into slavery and sentenced to serve in a galley for the rest of his life.

The drama of natural disasters provides prime material to entice young homeschool readers in this little "Step into Reading" book. In this volume, the account of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius describes Roman village life 2,000 years ago, the eruption itself and its aftermath, and the excitement when the buried town was rediscovered centuries later. A lively and factual glimpse of a devastating moment in history.

In his final quest, Gilgamesh, still mourning the death of his dear friend Enkidu, sets out to find the key to immortality. His journey is perilous. He must fight ferocious serpents and wild lions. He travels through bitterly cold caves, across scorching deserts, and over the fatal waters of the Sea of Death. Finally he arrives at the palace of Utnapishtim, the only human who knows the secret of immortality. Utnapishtim sets Gilgamesh a test to stay away for six days and seven nights, but Gilgamesh fails. His last hope, a flower of eternal youth, is eaten by the goddess Ishtar, who exacts her revenge. Finally, Enkidu comes from the underworld to show Gilgamesh true immortality: the king will be remembered for his good deeds, courage, and love for his people. This book is used in Illuminations.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was published in 1865, followed by Through the Looking Glass (considered by many to be Carroll's greatest work) in 1867. With humor, puns on the English language (like those found in Phantom Tollbooth ), and an exciting story line, this handsome, inexpensive edition of one of juvenile literature's enduring classics features the original John Tenniel illustrations.