Dictator

By Philip Terry

A radical reimagining of the Epic of Gilgamesh in Globish.Dictator recreates Gilgamesh using the 1,500-word vocabulary of Globish, a business language appropriate for translating cuneiform. Philip Terry's experimental poetry explores the limitations and possibilities of translation, offering a modern interpretation of an ancient text.

Nerri re considered Globish the world dialect of the third millennium; likewise, Akkadian, the language of Gilgamesh, was the lingua franca of communications in the Near East. This link between script, language, and business is present in the poem's substance. An underpinning theme involving trade, hard wood, and access to forests connects the poem to contemporary issues such as migration and the refugee crisis.

Scholars of literature, translation studies, and ancient history will find this work intriguing. Readers interested in experimental poetry and cultural studies will appreciate Terry's unique approach to a classic tale.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1784106186
• ISBN13: 9781784106188
• Release Date: October 2018
• Publisher: Carcanet Press
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.2" x 8.4"