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Hardcover The Iliad Book

ISBN: 1022937774

ISBN13: 9781022937772

The Iliad

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Format: Hardcover

Condition: New

$36.95
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Book Overview

Experience the timeless epic of the "Iliad of Homer," a cornerstone of Western literature. This meticulously prepared edition brings to life Homer's powerful tale of the Trojan War, a conflict woven into the fabric of Greek mythology and ancient Greek history.

Immerse yourself in the epic poetry that has captivated readers for centuries. The "Iliad" explores themes of honor, glory, and the devastating consequences of war, all set against the backdrop of a legendary siege. Homer's masterful storytelling and vivid descriptions transport you to a world of heroes, gods, and fierce battles.

A vital piece of literary history, the "Iliad" continues to resonate with its profound exploration of the human condition and its enduring impact on art and culture. Discover the epic poem that shaped our understanding of heroism and the ancient world.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Customer Reviews

2 ratings

Great Epic

I absolutley adored this book. I am reading the Odyssey now. I recommend you read both. It adds depth to the whole tale.

The best Iliad for the general reader

The Iliad is one of the greatest treasures of Western Civilization-and not just because a teacher told you it was. On the surface, it offers raw emotions, visceral action sequences and colorful characters you admire and hate, often at the same time. But it is much, much deeper than that. The scene where Hector bids his young wife good-bye and holds up his infant son to the gods, praying that the boy will one day be a better man than ever he himself was, has never been equaled as a statement of what it means to be a man, husband or father. The debates about honor and duty are still the same we face every day. The humanity, insight and profound philosophy are remarkable-especially for a work now 3,000 years old. The problem? How do you convey all that power? How do you do so in a way that captures the feel of original? Iliad translations have started to come fast and furious, as every ten years or so someone tries to tackle the monumental task of bringing the poem to modern readers. The process isn't helped by the fact that the text was already 300 years old to the classical Greeks like Aristotle, Sophocles and Euripides-making it as vaguely old-fashioned as Shakespeare is to us. Should it sound antiquated to us, too? If you really want a line by line translation, one that has some kind of meter that approaches the Greek original, the obvious choice is Lattimore's classic translation. It has the side benefit now of being somewhat dated in its English usage too. That said, for just a good ol' read of the Iliad, Lattimore isn't even my third choice. For all its accuracy, I've always felt I was reading a textbook, written by a classics scholar rather than an honest-to-goodness writer. Lombardo, on the other hand, is my preferred translation for sitting back and reading what is still a rip-roaring adventure (with enough deep thoughts to give it extra weight). Lombardo confesses there really is no way to adequately convey the "musicality" of the original, and goes on to re-cast it in freer poetry, based on natural speech. He's built up his translation thru multiple performances of the poems, with drum accompaniment, in public places, and his Iliad is honed to a razor sharp edge. The musty old poem students rolled their eyes at becomes a terrifying, beautiful beast that grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go. It is so immediate, trilling and relevant. Lombardo's translation is an Iliad you will feel, not just respect. Pick up the Lombardo translation and you will understand immediately why this work is still called the cornerstone of Western culture.

The Iliad Mentions in Our Blog

The Iliad in The Lore Behind the Hunger Games
The Lore Behind the Hunger Games
Published by Ashly Moore Sheldon • March 05, 2025

A new Hunger Games prequel comes out March 18 and we've got our preorders on lock. In the meantime, we're delving into the early influences that inspired the hit series by Suzanne Collins and we've put together a roundup of reads based on Greek mythology. Plus, we share a list of the author's favorite books growing up.

The Iliad in What to Read After Percival Everett's 'James'
What to Read After Percival Everett's 'James'
Published by Ashly Moore Sheldon • June 25, 2024

Told from the point of view of the enslaved Jim, Percival Everett's latest novel, James, is a brilliant, action-packed retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. If you enjoy stories that reimagine, reframe, or pay homage to classic texts, here are fifteen more titles for you.

The Iliad in The Tortured Poets Department
The Tortured Poets Department
Published by Ashly Moore Sheldon • April 30, 2024

Taylor Swift's new album, The Tortured Poets Department, came out April 19. Swift has a long history of including literary nods in her music and this title suggests her most bookish album yet! Back when she announced the track list, we made some predictions about things. Let's see how we did and explore all of the literary references in her latest lyrics.

The Iliad in Divine Inspiration
Divine Inspiration
Published by William Shelton • March 14, 2023
From the earliest moments of mankind, even until today, our species has been compelled to look up and ponder our origin. This instinct naturally leant itself to the origin of books and writing itself, with much of the written word produced by mankind having been devoted to recording our beliefs.
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