Gilgamesh, King of Uruk, and his companion Enkidu are the only heroes to have survived from the ancient literature of Babylon, immortalized in this epic poem that dates back to the 3rd millennium BC. Together they journey to the Spring of Youth, defeat the Bull of Heaven and slay the monster Humbaba. When Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh's grief and fear of death are such that they lead him to undertake a quest for eternal life. A timeless tale of morality, tragedy and pure adventure, The Epic of Gilgamesh is a landmark literary exploration of man's search for immortality.
The Epic of Gilgamesh (Classics)
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About the Author
N K Sandars has worked extensively in the fields of archaeology and prehistory and is a fellow of the British Academy. Her book of poems, Grandmother's Steps & Other Poems, was published in 2000.
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First Sentence
THE Epic of Gilgamesh, the renowned king of Uruk in Mesopotamia, comes from an age which had been wholly forgotten, until in the last century archaeologists began uncovering the buried cities of the Middle East. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
THE Epic of Gilgamesh, the renowned king of Uruk in Mesopotamia, comes from an age which had been wholly forgotten, until in the last century archaeologists began uncovering the buried cities of the Middle East. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
69 of 69 people found the following review helpful
By N. Clarke
Format:Paperback
Penguin Classics have produced here a wonderful new edition of the Epic of Gilgamesh. A lucid translation brings the epic to life, and it is backed up by a wealth of extra material that add depth and understanding to a reading of the text. There is an extensive introduction to the historical, literary and archaeological background: the Babylonian, Akkadian and Sumerian contexts are explored clearly and succinctly, and there is also a fascinating history of how the text itself has been pieced together. In addition, and making this new edition even more worthy, the translator collects together fragments from variant traditions - some of them for the first time in English - which expand or give slightly different perspectives upon the core text. This rounds out the picture perfectly, giving an intriguing glimpse into how the story and image of Gilgamesh evolved over time and in different contexts.
Finally, the text is peppered with line drawings of contemporary tablet illustrations. All this, and pictures too! Highly recommended.
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
If you want to read the story of Gilgamesh without worrying too much about where that story came from, then this is the book for you. Unlike the newer Penguin edition, this is a straightforward retelling of the epic in prose form, and no attempt is made to reflect the complexity of the many fragmentary versions of the text.
The story is told in six chapters, based on the Standard Version of the epic, but without following its line and verse structure. It's short and snappy and by the time you've finished you'll have seen Gilgamesh's adventures in the Forest of Cedar, in the Underworld, and at the end of the world as he is instructed by Uta-napishti, the only survivor of the Deluge. You'll see Gilgamesh progress from haughty despot to responsible ruler, as he realises that the only way to immortality is through the good works you leave behind.
This is a story of gradual realisation and painfully acquired insight which we can all relate to. Though it lacks the sure touch of the Iliad or the Odyssey, which may be due to the extremely fragmentary and disparate sources, there is a real humanity to Gilgamesh and his inner turmoil which goes to show that human nature hasn't changed that much.
It also comes with an excellent short introduction to ancient Mesopotamia and its geography, history and culture.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Aj West
Format:Paperback
This translation of Gilgamesh is one of the best things I have read in a while. It takes a quite academic route to giving the reader the many goods of the epic in that the narrative is slightly broken up by sorting the information by tablet, and by not neglecting any relevant Sumerian or Akkadian version of the epic. That is to say, the reader should be aware that this is not like simply reading a book of prose; the text is verse (verse with repeating lines and ideas, as in much epic poetry, a style I find readable and enjoyable, but others can find less so) and is frequently broken by lacunae coming from the source material; and the text is divided into three major parts. Part one is the Standard Version, or He Who Saw the Deep, in 11 tablets; part two is Surpassing All Other Kings, beginning with the Pennsylvania tablet; and part three is a selection of Sumerian poems of Bilgames (the Sumerian version of the Akkadian name Gilgamesh). All parts are well translated - beautifully so, so that even the fairly frequent lacunae (it is, after all, several thousand years old) do not interrupt the understanding or enjoyment.
The introduction to the book is excellent - a brilliant summary of some general ideas about life in the time it was written in ancient Mesopotamia. The introductions to each part, tablet and poem are also lucid, helpful and personable. Even the few illustrations - copies of original pictures from Mesopotamia describing the epic - are lively and expressive. If it had been the first translation of the epic that I had read, and it assuredly is not, then it would have been a perfect introduction. There is even an appendix on how a translator works with the 3,000 year old source material to produce something readable, which was a nice little finisher for the wonderful text. I couldn't recommend it highly enough. If you have even the scantiest interest in the ancient near east, you should purchase this text - not only the epic, but this translation of it. It really provides the thrill of the past in an elegant way.
The introduction to the book is excellent - a brilliant summary of some general ideas about life in the time it was written in ancient Mesopotamia. The introductions to each part, tablet and poem are also lucid, helpful and personable. Even the few illustrations - copies of original pictures from Mesopotamia describing the epic - are lively and expressive. If it had been the first translation of the epic that I had read, and it assuredly is not, then it would have been a perfect introduction. There is even an appendix on how a translator works with the 3,000 year old source material to produce something readable, which was a nice little finisher for the wonderful text. I couldn't recommend it highly enough. If you have even the scantiest interest in the ancient near east, you should purchase this text - not only the epic, but this translation of it. It really provides the thrill of the past in an elegant way.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
Really good introduction and lots of helpful notes. Must recommend this version over others!
Its a nice size too, great if your doing an essay on it like I am.
Its a nice size too, great if your doing an essay on it like I am.
Published 5 months ago by Miss Davies
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not the actual Epic.
I spent £7 on this thinking that it was actually The Epic of Gilgamesh.
It's not. Just a retelling. Read more
It's not. Just a retelling. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Kirsty
4.0 out of 5 stars
A must read
A must read book as this is probably one of the oldest text in the world.
The story may appear quite alien but in the same time very close to us. Read more
The story may appear quite alien but in the same time very close to us. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Eric le rouge
5.0 out of 5 stars
the true versions (with their holes not replenished)
The epic of Gilgamesh is one of the first narratives ever written. It has been rediscovered through archeological excavations, written on clay tablets. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Manu
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mighty reading
This is so good,read by Richard Pasco,that one had to find it on Amazon,given the lowbrow marketplace of eBAY-it's a long listen but quite an intriguing tale for those with the... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Ken Raus
4.0 out of 5 stars
It didn't seem that old...
For those who don't know, "The Epic of Gilgamesh" is one the oldest pieces of literature that have managed to survive. Read more
Published 10 months ago by ManInsideTheHelm
5.0 out of 5 stars
An important piece of world literature
I read a more modern translation of the Epic a few years ago, but saw that this was recommended by the author of Complete Bablyonian. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Oygen
3.0 out of 5 stars
Shortest Epic?
This was an odd one; I was reading from a totally non-academic point of view, as I had heard of it but knew nothing of it. Read more
Published on 13 Sep 2010 by Grifter
4.0 out of 5 stars
Masculine epic friendship
The first textual story we have, written on clay tablets and only translated in the C19th, Gilgamesh is 1500-2000 years older than Homer therefore dated to around the 10th century... Read more
Published on 27 Jun 2010 by Roman Clodia
4.0 out of 5 stars
An additional edition, not a replacement edition!
It may be a matter of taste, but I find that it's worth having this edition as well as the 1972 Sandars Penguin Classic, rather than as a replacement. Read more
Published on 27 Nov 2009 by Fuficius Fango
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