David A. Traill's scholarly biography Schliemann of Troy: Treasure and Deceit is about Heinrich Schliemann, the 19th-century archaeologist who found the Troy ruins in 1871. The book is detailed and meticulously researched, and some say it's densely informative and readable. Reviews note that the book slowly reveals how Schliemann was self-centered and a myth-maker, and that half of what he said was a lie. The book also discusses how Schliemann concealed artifacts, fabricated details in his diaries, and prioritized his own delusion over analyzing what he discovered. ( )

Another mendacious hero. Traill tells a great balanced story of one of the greatest archaeologists, setting the facts straight and pointing to the whoppers he told while changing the history of history. From his version of his childhood - that he'd been obsessed with digging up Troy as a boy - to his stuffing his finds with bought, smuggled, and shuffled around goodies - truth played a limited role in his account of himself. He ranks with those great liars - L v d Post, Baron Munchausen, Jonathan Aitken, perhaps T E Lawrence and a recent Prime Minister come to mind - who were also great achievers. Traill is very good at sorting out the blatant from the suspect from the worthy-of-scepticism and generous in pointing to Schliemann's genuine achievements. Most important, that he rescued Homer from legend and put Troy back into history. Occasionally the details of which grave or pile of rubble or hunk of sculpture was found where can be hard to follow; nonetheless overall, an intriguing story with several big personalities,especially the central one. ( )

Victorian archaeology techniques read like vandalism from a modern perspective, and Traill is clearly appalled by this founder of his profession, becoming infuriated by Schliemann's Barnum+Bailey spin, and elaborately catching Schliemann out in a lie. The biographer's rage at his subject makes this unintentionally funny in places.

Aside from the writer/subject conflict, this was a fascinating life, an excellent armchair history read. ( )

Just picked up the Penguin '96 edition - Different cover. 50c