- Paperback: 290 pages
- Publisher: Free Press; Reprint edition (24 Jan 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0743261690
- ISBN-13: 978-0743261692
- Product Dimensions: 21.3 x 14 x 2.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,108,263 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
Robert Colesauthor of "Lives of Moral Leadership, The Call of Service," and "The Spiritual Life of Children" and James Agee Professor of Social Ethics, Harvard UniversityHere is the wisdom and lyrical beauty of yore rendered, offered us anew, by a distinguished, ever-so-knowing translator and poet who has given so many of us a wondrous education these past years. Mitchell connects us to treasures of the past brought alive by his broad and deep sensibility.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
An English-language rendering of the world's oldest epic follows the journey of conquest and self-discovery by the king of Uruk, in an edition that includes an introduction that places the story in its historical and cultural context.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Although reputed to be the oldest story extant, "Gilgamesh" shows that human nature remains constant through the ages. The story of King Gilgamesh and his friend, Enkidu, record the age-old tale of rivalry and friendship, death and remorse and, ultimately, the search for immortality. These themes of daily life and parallels to modern statecraft render Gilgamesh as fresh as today's news.
Some features of "Gilgamesh" bear such a resemblance to the Bible as to clearly establish the Bible as a book of its time and culture. Gilgamesh contains a reference to seven years of famine (Joseph in Egypt), a flood story (similar to, but in critical ways different from Noah's) and sections of repeated dialogue, so reminiscent of Biblical sections. The explanatory essay by Stephen Mitchell helps the reader to understand the significance of portions of the tale's subtleties.
As the oldest surviving example of the literature of civilization, "Gilgamesh" should be within the ken of every civilized person. Besides that, it is entertaining reading.
Some features of "Gilgamesh" bear such a resemblance to the Bible as to clearly establish the Bible as a book of its time and culture. Gilgamesh contains a reference to seven years of famine (Joseph in Egypt), a flood story (similar to, but in critical ways different from Noah's) and sections of repeated dialogue, so reminiscent of Biblical sections. The explanatory essay by Stephen Mitchell helps the reader to understand the significance of portions of the tale's subtleties.
As the oldest surviving example of the literature of civilization, "Gilgamesh" should be within the ken of every civilized person. Besides that, it is entertaining reading.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is, without any doubt, a controversial translation of the Epic of Gilgamesh, the story of the love between the arrogant tyrant, Gilgamesh, and the wild man, Enkidu. After Enkidu's death Gilgamesh searches desperately how to overcome death, how to realize the impossible human dream of eternal life. But, `when the gods created mankind, they also created death, and held back eternal life for themselves alone.'
Instead of acting `as though human life lasted forever' ('Building houses, make contracts, brothers divide their inheritance, conflicts occur'), man should face head-on the fact that life is short and `carpe diem': `Gilgamesh, can't you see how fortunate you are? You have worn yourself out through ceaseless striving ... and what have you achieved but to bring yourself one day nearer to the end of your days?'
Is this text a literal translation? No. Is it a correct translation? No, already the sometimes long repetitions are not included, so no `bis repetita placent'. Is it a fair rendering of an original version? No. Is it a fair rendering of the original epic by using different versions? Yes.
So, this is not a text for scholars or students (for them I recommend A.R. George's `The Babylonian Gilgamesh Epic'), but for the layman interested in world literature and its first masterpiece. Sīn-leqi-unninni wrote indeed a monumentally human poem, worth a Homeros.
A must read.
Instead of acting `as though human life lasted forever' ('Building houses, make contracts, brothers divide their inheritance, conflicts occur'), man should face head-on the fact that life is short and `carpe diem': `Gilgamesh, can't you see how fortunate you are? You have worn yourself out through ceaseless striving ... and what have you achieved but to bring yourself one day nearer to the end of your days?'
Is this text a literal translation? No. Is it a correct translation? No, already the sometimes long repetitions are not included, so no `bis repetita placent'. Is it a fair rendering of an original version? No. Is it a fair rendering of the original epic by using different versions? Yes.
So, this is not a text for scholars or students (for them I recommend A.R. George's `The Babylonian Gilgamesh Epic'), but for the layman interested in world literature and its first masterpiece. Sīn-leqi-unninni wrote indeed a monumentally human poem, worth a Homeros.
A must read.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
102 reviews
108 of 112 people found the following review helpful
A Decent Choice To Start
8 Aug 2006
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
In general, I am more interested in the scholarly translations of the Epic of Gilgamesh than I am those that attempt to create an English literary version of the Epic. That being said, Stephen Mitchell's new version of the Epic is a very readable adaptation, even if he takes a lot of liberties with the original story. Mr. Mitchell draws from several different translations, including Stephanie Dalley's and Benjamin Foster's, both of which I have read and can recommend to others as very good literal translations. He also uses Andrew George's "The Babylonian Gilgamesh Epic" which has been highly recommended to me, and which I look forward to reading.
In his efforts to produce a more literary version of the Epic, parts of it have been cut or rearranged, so if you are looking for a pure translation, this is not only not a good choice but it would be one of the worst selections you could make. However, if you are looking for an enjoyable and easy to follow version of the Epic, this is a nice introduction. I would not suggest that you read only this edition though, but rather use it as a starting place to get a feel for the story and then move on to the other translations, which while more difficult to follow are ultimately more rewarding.
In his efforts to produce a more literary version of the Epic, parts of it have been cut or rearranged, so if you are looking for a pure translation, this is not only not a good choice but it would be one of the worst selections you could make. However, if you are looking for an enjoyable and easy to follow version of the Epic, this is a nice introduction. I would not suggest that you read only this edition though, but rather use it as a starting place to get a feel for the story and then move on to the other translations, which while more difficult to follow are ultimately more rewarding.
127 of 136 people found the following review helpful
Wonderful Introduction to the Epic of Gilgamesh.
22 Oct 2004
Format:Hardcover
I have heard the Gilgamesh title bandied about in conversations over the years, but I never had any interest in reading the epic that carries the historical king's name until Stephen Mitchell's translation came along. Call it fate, downtime between freelance jobs or an intriguing cover that happened to feed into my backburnered fascination with the Ancient Near East. In any event, I purchased the book and have just now finished reading it.
One of my biggest obstacles in approaching ancient literature is language. I want to be able to read it in a modern-enough translation that I don't lose the rhythm of the writing. Nothing destroys my interest in finishing a book more than constantly having to flip to a rear glossary or bouncing down to incessant footnotes. Mitchell's translation avoids all of that clutter by telling the story in a vernacular that facilitates finishing the work within a single sitting.
There are ample endnotes that delve into the issue of language translation if that floats one's boat, but there is also a wonderful (and timely) introduction that sets the stage for the literary adventure that is Gilgamesh. Mitchell's love for the epic is evident in his writing style which never suffers from erudite jargon or stuffy, scholarly analysis.
I found this translation completely accessible and a great joy to read!
One of my biggest obstacles in approaching ancient literature is language. I want to be able to read it in a modern-enough translation that I don't lose the rhythm of the writing. Nothing destroys my interest in finishing a book more than constantly having to flip to a rear glossary or bouncing down to incessant footnotes. Mitchell's translation avoids all of that clutter by telling the story in a vernacular that facilitates finishing the work within a single sitting.
There are ample endnotes that delve into the issue of language translation if that floats one's boat, but there is also a wonderful (and timely) introduction that sets the stage for the literary adventure that is Gilgamesh. Mitchell's love for the epic is evident in his writing style which never suffers from erudite jargon or stuffy, scholarly analysis.
I found this translation completely accessible and a great joy to read!
54 of 64 people found the following review helpful
Ersatz Gilgamesh: don't accept this bad imitation
19 July 2007
Format:Paperback
Reading an actual translation of Gilgamesh would be a vastly better experience, unless understanding Stephen Mitchell's worldview is really all you want (see below for three excellent translations). I've met Mitchell, discussed the book with him; a nice man, but he has no conception of what he's changed and lost in his free rendition. And that would all be well and good, except he has the temerity to villanize "scholarly" work as dry, boring, and inaccessible - and make serious coin off of it. Sadly, he is guaranteed of making his claim of his book as a more direct and authentic read good for 99% of his readership, because they will never avail themselves of the real thing. In rendering language as he sees fit, what you get is Mitchell's poetic vision, yes; what you do not get is the authentic set of references and world views that the Sumerian and Akkadian language provide - his "version" actually manages to get things substantially wrong from the very first line! When he claims his work as improved or more accessible, the author (not translator) is playing a shell game with you. And he gets your money.
Meanwhile, for less than the price of Mitchell's, one could buy the scholarly editions of A. George, B. Foster, and S. Dalley and get the Real McCoy!
Meanwhile, for less than the price of Mitchell's, one could buy the scholarly editions of A. George, B. Foster, and S. Dalley and get the Real McCoy!
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