The Iliad of Homer

By Andrew Lang, Andrew Homer, Ernest Myers, et al.

Book Overview

"The Iliad of Homer" is one of the foundational works of Western literature and a cornerstone of the epic tradition. Attributed to the ancient Greek poet Homer, this monumental poem recounts the final weeks of the Trojan War, a legendary decade-long conflict between the city of Troy and the Achaean forces. The narrative is driven by the theme of the wrath of Achilles, the Greeks' most formidable warrior, whose pride and subsequent withdrawal from the battlefield lead to devastating consequences for his comrades.

This translation, produced by the noted scholars Andrew Lang, Walter Leaf, and Ernest Myers, seeks to capture the archaic beauty and heroic scale of the original Greek text. Through its verses, readers encounter a world where the destinies of men are intricately woven with the whims of the Olympian gods. From the fierce duels on the plains of Troy to the moving encounters between legendary figures like Hector and Priam, "The Iliad of Homer" explores universal human experiences: the pursuit of glory, the agony of loss, and the inevitability of fate. It remains an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the roots of epic storytelling and the enduring power of classical mythology.

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 was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

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.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. 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.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1025478266
• ISBN13: 9781025478265
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Tradd Street Press
• Length: 526 Pages
• Weight: 2.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.2" x 1.1" x 6.1"

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. For example: "Sing, goddess, the wrath of Achilles Peleus' son, the ruinous wrath that brought on the Achaians woes innumerable, and hurled down into Hades many strong souls of heroes, and gave their bodies to be a prey to dogs and all winged fowls; and so the counsel of Zeus wrought out its accomplishment from the day when first strife parted Atreides king of men and n-o-b-l-e Achilles." - Translated by Andrew Lang Our story takes place in the ninth year of the ongoing war. We get an introduction to the first nine years, but they serve merely as background to this tale of pride, sorrow, and revenge. The story will also end abruptly before the war comes to a close. 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.