A literary and cultural investigation of the discord and resonance between classical ideals of heroic action and the imperatives of the Christian life, from the Homeric epic to the 21st century. Its central theme is the difficulty of recognizing, imitating and participating in heroic excellence - a difficulty that has been a concern for classical, Renaissance, and modern writers alike. Human excellence, both classical and Christian, cannot simply be commended, the authors conclude. It must be made manifest to become a model for the actions of others.