The Iliad, the Ramayana, and the Work of Religion: Failed Persuasion and Religious Mystification (Penn State Series in the History of the Book) Review "The aim of this book is to expose and analyze the means by which two classic narratives from two radically different cultures, Valmiki's Ramayana, of ancient India and Homer's Iliad of classical Greece, 'mystify' the social, cultural, and ultimately existential dangers of 'failed persuasion.' The author submits that these narratives 'mystified' the very limits in the patterns of persuasion by which their social orders were arranged, and thereby 'rendered human association tenable and tolerable.' This book unquestionably makes a significant contribution not only to the history of religions but also to religion and literature and comparative literature as well." --Eric Ziolkowski, Lafayette College 				    	 					 About the Author Gregory D. Alles is Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Coordinator of Cross-Cultural Studies at Western Maryland College.