- Paperback: 1 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Books Australia (3 April 2000)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0147712556
- ISBN-13: 978-0147712554
- Product Dimensions: 22.1 x 15 x 8.9 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,124,164 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
46 of 53 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
What attracted me to this version of the classic books was actually the cover. On bookshelves full of dry classic paperback (each with the obiligatory classic statue on the front cover), the books by Fagles used different textures of paper, begging you to pick them up. Plus the each page is made of paper of deliberately slightly different widths, to give it a "hand bound" quality. so, before you even start reading, you start falling in love with the book! I promptly called home and asked my girlfriend to check the price on amazon and she told me there was this "dual" version.No contest, I cam home and logged on here.
The translation has recieved polarised reactions. some accuse it of ruining the poetic nature of the works, others that it "brings it upto date, for a new generation" (you can imagine the hyperbole).
I would say its somewhere inbetween. I own another two versions, but this is the one I would read to simply enjoy the story, the drama and the characterisations. ok, if there are passages ou feel have been diluted in the translations, then dig out your other versions ( i assume the crtics ARE talking from experience!)
What makes THIS particular purchase so neat is that you get both books in a hard cover surround. (not just "one" paperback) so not only do you save money (surf on this site and see for yourself), but it looks drop dead gorgeous as well. ie the perfect gift! Highly recommended
19 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Studying for A-levels requires a lot of wider reading (i.e. reading beyond set texts)...so I chose to read The Iliad and The Odyssey.
You open either of the books and are instantly immersed in a mythical realm of escapism and fantasy. Reading at first can be a little difficult, the style in which the text is set out is that of poetry (I'm not sure of the poetic style) and so you may find yourself trying to read it like a nursery rhyme, but the key is to read it as if it was a normal book, one finds it reads with a flow after a while anyway.
The aesthetics of the set are very appreciable. The covers and case are attractive, at the edge of the books' pages they're cut in a ribbed manner - a unique to my library at least.
Overall wonderful stories, good for evening/relaxing reading, cheap (RRP of each book is £12). If you wish to escape to the 5th Century BC - and immerse yourself in wonders of the archaic world then read this: a truly memorable experience and a must-read for everyone.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Iliad
With many books, translations are negligible, with two obvious exceptions, one is the Bible, and surprisingly the other is The Iliad.
For example:
"Rage--Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus' son Achilles,
Murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses,
hurling down to the House of Death so many souls,
great fighters' souls. But made their bodies carrion,
feasts for dogs and birds,
and the will of Zeus was moving towards its end.
Begin, Muse, when the two first broke and clashed,
Agamemnon lord of men and brilliant Achilles."
-Translated by Robert Fagles
"Sing, O Goddess, the anger of Achilles, son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans. Many a brave soul did it send hurrying down to Hades, and many a heroes did it yield a prey to dogs and vultures for so were the counsels of Zeus fulfilled from the day on which the son of Atreus, king of men, and great Achilles first fell out with one another."
-Translated by Samuel Butler
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 the 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 warier and that of Agamemnon, lord of men, who's power comes form 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.
=======================================================
The Odyssey
"I long to be homeward bound" Simon and Garfunkle
The Trojan War is over and one of our hero kings is lost. His son (Telemachus) travels to find any information about his father's fait. His wife (Penelope) must cunningly hold off suitors that are eating them out of house and home.
If he ever makes it home Odysseus will have to detect those servants loyal from those who are not. One absent king against rows of suitors; how will he give them their just deserts? We look to Bright Eyed Pallas Athena to help prophecy come true.
Interestingly all the tales of monsters and gods on the sea voyage was told by Odysseus. Notice that no on else survives to tell the tale. So we have to rely on Odysseus' word.
Many movies took sections of The Odyssey, and expanded them to make interesting stories those selves.
Not just the story but the way in which it is told will keep you up late at night reading.
With many books, translations are negligible, with two obvious exceptions, one is the Bible, and surprisingly the other is The Iliad.
For example:
"Rage--Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus' son Achilles,
Murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses,
hurling down to the House of Death so many souls,
great fighters' souls. But made their bodies carrion,
feasts for dogs and birds,
and the will of Zeus was moving towards its end.
Begin, Muse, when the two first broke and clashed,
Agamemnon lord of men and brilliant Achilles."
-Translated by Robert Fagles
"Sing, O Goddess, the anger of Achilles, son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans. Many a brave soul did it send hurrying down to Hades, and many a heroes did it yield a prey to dogs and vultures for so were the counsels of Zeus fulfilled from the day on which the son of Atreus, king of men, and great Achilles first fell out with one another."
-Translated by Samuel Butler
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 the 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 warier and that of Agamemnon, lord of men, who's power comes form 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.
=======================================================
The Odyssey
"I long to be homeward bound" Simon and Garfunkle
The Trojan War is over and one of our hero kings is lost. His son (Telemachus) travels to find any information about his father's fait. His wife (Penelope) must cunningly hold off suitors that are eating them out of house and home.
If he ever makes it home Odysseus will have to detect those servants loyal from those who are not. One absent king against rows of suitors; how will he give them their just deserts? We look to Bright Eyed Pallas Athena to help prophecy come true.
Interestingly all the tales of monsters and gods on the sea voyage was told by Odysseus. Notice that no on else survives to tell the tale. So we have to rely on Odysseus' word.
Many movies took sections of The Odyssey, and expanded them to make interesting stories those selves.
Not just the story but the way in which it is told will keep you up late at night reading.
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