The Iliad Of Homer

By Gilbert Wakefield and Alexander Pope

"The Iliad" is one of the oldest and most important works of Western literature. Attributed to Homer, this epic poem recounts a period of the Trojan War, focusing on the wrath of Achilles. This edition presents Alexander Pope's celebrated translation, known for its poetic style and enduring readability, alongside the scholarly insights of Gilbert Wakefield. Wakefield's contributions enhance the reader's understanding of the historical and cultural context of the epic.

The poem explores themes of honor, courage, fate, and the devastating consequences of war, offering a profound look into the values and beliefs of ancient Greek society. Readers will be captivated by the vivid descriptions of battles, the interactions between gods and mortals, and the complex relationships between heroes. "The Iliad" remains a cornerstone of classical education and a testament to the power of storytelling.

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 will 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: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1024794458
• ISBN13: 9781024794458
• Release Date: May 2025
• Publisher: Hutson Street Press
• Length: 512 Pages
• Weight: 1.56 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.1" x 9.2"

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.