The Iliad of Homer, Volume 1

Book Overview

In his Preface to the Iliad, Alexander Pope declared that in his poetic invention Homer possessed ""unequalled fire and rapture."" Pope spent his formative years as a poet translating Homer, beginning with the Iliad, and in his translation he successfully found a style that answers the sublimity and grace of Homer. Steven Shankman provides scholarly critical apparatus for this Penguin English Poets edition, which is based on the 1743 edition that contains the poet's final revisions. Pope's Preface and the three indexes are also included. Most importantly, this edition makes available for the first time in paperback Pope's notes in their entirety, enabling us to observe one poetic genius illuminate the work of another.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1666732354
• ISBN13: 9781666732351
• Release Date: September 2021
• Publisher: Wipf & Stock Publishers
• Length: 626 Pages
• Weight: 1.82 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

The ground is dark with blood.

With many books, translations are negligible, with two obvious exceptions: one is the Bible, and surprisingly, the other is The Iliad. Each translation can give a different insight and feel to the story. Everyone will have a favorite. I have several. There are partial translations that are worth reading, but as with any abridgment or incomplete Iliad, you will never know what is missing. Be aware of retold versions, as the purpose of the original can be twisted or lost altogether. Our story takes place in the ninth year of the ongoing war. We get some introduction to the first nine years, but they are just a background to this tale of pride, sorrow, and revenge. The story will also end abruptly before the end of the war. We have a wide conflict between the Trojans and Achaeans over a matter of pride; the gods get to take sides and many times direct spears and shields. Although the more focused conflict is the power struggle between two different types of power. That of Achilles, son of Peleus and the greatest individual warrior, and that of Agamemnon, lord of men, whose power comes from his position. We are treated to a blow-by-blow inside story as to what each is thinking and an unvarnished description of the perils of war and the search for Arête (to be more like Aries, God of War). Next, before reading the Odyssey, you will want to bridge the gap with “The War at Troy: What Homer Didn't Tell” by Quintus of Smyrna.