The Iliad of Homer (Classical Series) (12 Books) (English and Greek Edition)

By Homer and George Chapman

Book Overview

The epic tale of wrath and redemption. Here is a new Loeb Classical Library edition of Homer's stirring heroic account of the Trojan war and its passions. The eloquent and dramatic epic poem captures... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0333157389
• ISBN13: 9780333157381
• Release Date: December 1978
• Publisher: MacMillan Publishing Company.
• Length: 328 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.7" x 5.8" x 1.1"

Customer Reviews

The ground is dark with blood.

With many books, translations are largely negligible, with two notable exceptions: the Bible and, surprisingly, The Iliad. Each translation can offer a different insight and feel for 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. For example: "Achilles' baneful wrath - resound, O Goddess - that impos'd Infinite sorrow on the Greeks, and the brave souls loos'd From beasts heroic; sent them far, to that invisible cave* That no light comforts; and their limbs to dogs and vultures gave: To all which Jove's will give effect; from whom the first strife begun Betwixt Atrides, king of men, and Thetis' godlike son*" -Translated by George Chapman, 1616, the first translator of Homer. 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.

Homer's masterpiece

This edition, in the original Greek, contains half of the Iliad and is followed by several other volumes, which contain the second half of the Iliad, the Odyssey, and the Homeric Hymns.The Iliad centers around the anger of the warrior Achilles when Agammenon unjustly takes his concubine. Achilles subsequently refuses to fight, and, because his divine strength makes him indispensible to the Greek war effort, the Greeks are nearly driven from the Trojan shores.Reading this book in the original language makes a big difference. Homer is a master of both sound and sense and to read him in translation deprives the reader of the former.The lack of commentary and vocabulary in this edition does not make it the best choice for beginners in Greek.