Homer: The Iliad & the Odyssey (Deluxe Hardbound Edition)

By Homer

Book Overview

The Iliad & The Odyssey by Homer brings together two of the greatest works of ancient Greek literature and classical epic poetry in one timeless volume. These foundational epics explore war, heroism, destiny, honor, loyalty, adventure, and the enduring struggle between human ambition and the will of the gods.

The Iliad unfolds during the final stages of the Trojan War, centering on the wrath of Achilles and the conflict between Greek and Trojan warriors. Through legendary figures such as Achilles, Hector, Agamemnon, and Priam, the epic examines courage, pride, mortality, glory, grief, and the devastating cost of war.

The Odyssey follows the long and perilous journey of Odysseus as he struggles to return home to Ithaca after the fall of Troy. Across encounters with monsters, enchantments, storms, gods, and temptation, the poem explores adventure, perseverance, intelligence, loyalty, homecoming, and survival, while Penelope and Telemachus face their own challenges at home.

Together, these two masterpieces form an essential cornerstone of Western literature, world classics, mythology, and epic storytelling. Rich in unforgettable characters, dramatic conflict, and timeless ideas about human nature, The Iliad & The Odyssey is ideal for readers interested in Homer, Greek classics, ancient history, legendary heroes, epic adventures, and the literary works that have influenced generations of writers and thinkers.

Why should readers pick this book?Two Epic Classics in One Volume: Experience Homer's The Iliad and The Odyssey, two foundational masterpieces of ancient Greek literature and epic poetry.Legendary Heroes & Timeless Adventures: Follow Achilles through the Trojan War and Odysseus through an extraordinary journey filled with danger, courage, strategy, and perseverance.Essential World Literature: Ideal for students, classic literature readers, history enthusiasts, and anyone interested in Greek epics, ancient civilization, mythology, and heroic storytelling.
Key ThemesWar, Honor & Heroism: Explore courage, pride, glory, mortality, leadership, and the human cost of conflict through the events of the Trojan War.Adventure, Perseverance & Homecoming: Follow Odysseus as intelligence, endurance, and determination guide him through danger and uncertainty on his journey home.Fate, Loyalty & Human Nature: Reflect on destiny, family, duty, temptation, friendship, the influence of the gods, and the choices that shape human lives.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 8184801262
• ISBN13: 9789388144292
• Release Date: August 2018
• Publisher: Fingerprint
• Length: 768 Pages
• Weight: 1.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 2.0" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

“I long to be homeward bound,” Simon and Garfunkel

The Trojan War is over, and one of our hero kings is lost. His son (Telemachus) travels to find any information about his father’s fate. His wife (Penelope) must cunningly hold off suitors who are eating them out of house and home. If he ever makes it home, Odysseus will have to detect those servants loyal from those who are not. One absent king against rows of suitors; how will he give them their just desserts? We look to Bright-Eyed Pallas Athena to help prophecy come true. Interestingly, all the tales of monsters and gods on the sea voyage were told by Odysseus. Notice that no one else survives to tell the tale. Therefore, we have to rely on Odysseus’s word. Many movies took sections of The Odyssey and expanded them into interesting stories in their own right. Not just the story but also how it is told will keep you up late at night reading. It is a tear-jerker when Odysseus returns, 20 years later, and the only one to recognize him is Argos, his faithful dog, who lived long enough to see him. Upon seeing his master return home, Argos dies. You will, of course, want to buy the various translations to see the differences in reading style and content.

Great edition

This edition was absolutely gorgeous. I loved every detail of it. I purchased it as a Christmas present and I’m sure the receiver will love it too!

Great Translation of the Epics

The Iliad and Odyssey in one big volume of 710 pages. I like Samuel Butler's prose translation of these epic stories. He used the Greek so that we can read of Odysseus and not Ulysses, Zeus and not Jove, Athene and not Minerva making it extremely readable. My eleven and twelve year old are reading this edition and it is easy for them to understand. The Iliad centers around the theme of Kleos- or glory and the Odyssey centers around Homecoming. This classic is a must read and it is a delight with this translation.

Nice Book

It's great having both of these books in one cover. Not sure about the other review. No typos here.

Epic story, great translation

This book is the first epic poem ever written, and it still ranks among the best. Reading this book is fundamental to understanding the rest of Greco-Roman literature, as it is referred to constantly by the great Greek and Roman authors. The story itself is very good, telling of the Greek beseigment of Troy, attempting to take back Menelos' beautiful wife Helen, who was stolen by a Trojan prince. The great heroes of Greece (Ajax, Agamemnon, Diomed, Achilles) battle Hector, defender of Troy, and his army. The gods on Mount Olympus are divided, some taking the side of the Greeks and some the side of the Trojans. The gods frequently shift the balance of the war, and the deterministic worldview of the Greeks is easily seen. At one point Agamemnon, king of the Greeks, says that he only did things because the gods had subconsciously forced him to. At another point Homer mentions that the Greeks' wall fell because "It had been built without the concent of the immortals, and therefore it did not last." At any rate, it is a very insightful glimse into the mindset of the ancient Greeks, and is very insteresting. I would highly recommend reading this book. I do have one complaint, though. For some reason all of the gods' names are Roman instead of Greek. For example, Zeus is always changed to Jove. I fail to see why this is necessary, unless they were leading you into a reading of the Aenied. If this is the case, Butler should have explained it. Other than that, however, this was an excellent translation. Overall grade: A