- Hardcover: 88 pages
- Publisher: Jonathan Cape Ltd; 1st ed edition (7 May 1981)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0224015346
- ISBN-13: 978-0224015349
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,086,762 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
'Less a translation than an adaptation. Less an adaptation, in fact, than an original poem of considerable power... The language of War Music is applied with such a barbaric certainty of touch that, even at its most gorgeous or most ferocious, we are hardly aware of it. This is a work of a highly literary quality in which everything is vividly imagined, every image freshly minted.' Derek Mahon, Observer; 'The best translation of Homer since Pope's...' Gary Wills, New York Review of Books; 'Homer is re-experienced, is given the mystery of creative echo... Translation of genius.' George Steiner, Sunday Times; 'A work of great virtuosity, something completely original in style and stance... It is tremendously graphic, full of felicities as well as stark colloquialisms pointing up the drama. It is the perfect introduction to Homer, faithful in tone and spirit to the essential Greekness of the old poem.' Lawrence Durrell, London Magazine
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Product Description
Helen, the world's most beautiful woman, the wife of Lord Menelaos of Sparta, left Greece in the company of Paris, the son of Priam, King of Troy. To repossess her, a thousand Greek ships sailed to Troy. Nine years have passed. The Greeks have not achieved their aim. Indeed, after a quarrel between Achilles their leader and Agamemnon their king, the Trojans, led by Paris's brother, Prince Hector, have driven the Greeks off the plain of Troy and back behind the palisade protecting their ships. Achilles refuses to help them. It is night . . .
The scene is set for Cold Calls, the fifth and penultimate instalment of Logue's Homer, an ongoing project - a piece of performance-art for the page rather than the stage - which has taken several decades to unfold, and has been described by Derek Mahon as 'Less a translation than an adaptation. Less an adaptation, in fact, than an original poem of considerable power.'
--This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
35 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Astounding. I bought this volume this morning for thirty pence from a charity shop in West Norwood - never having heard of Christopher Logue - and consumed it in the space of one afternoon and evening. Great to feel again - after too long - the quickening that great writing can put into your step, your imagination and your heart. Bought me to tears as I finished the first section at Two O'clock in Brockwell Park. Nine O'clock now and I have (for the first time) finished the whole thing and - with gratitude - discovered that there is MORE of this guys 'translation' of Homer to read. A great day; thank you Christopher Logue...
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was aware of Christopher Logue long before I became aware of War Music from his contributions to Private Eye and strangely I first became aware of War Music in [I assume] a BBC radio production. I'm not sure of the date but I think it was early in '79 but I could be totally mistaken. It was not a full cast production - I think I remember only a single narrator with impressive sound effects.
It was brilliant and made a big impression so much so that I listened to it again when it was rebroadcast some time later. I've never been able to track down details of this production.
When I saw War Music in print for I immediately obtained it and I've re-read regularly since then - a period of over 25 years.
Each time it produces the same feelings that others have described. I've read various "translations" of Homer's "original" and this while never a strict translation in the usually accepted term outshines them all in it's use of language. Logue's descriptive ability is amazing. It's has been and always will be one of my very favourite books
It was brilliant and made a big impression so much so that I listened to it again when it was rebroadcast some time later. I've never been able to track down details of this production.
When I saw War Music in print for I immediately obtained it and I've re-read regularly since then - a period of over 25 years.
Each time it produces the same feelings that others have described. I've read various "translations" of Homer's "original" and this while never a strict translation in the usually accepted term outshines them all in it's use of language. Logue's descriptive ability is amazing. It's has been and always will be one of my very favourite books
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I came upon this volume purely by chance and was completely delighted by it. A retelling of some books of Homer's Iliad, it's tender and brutal, sad, funny and rather wonderful all at once. You'll be engrossed by it and, like me, won't be able to wait to get the two follow-up volumes.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Despite his mucking about with the characters...
Of all the English re-tellers of Homer, Logue is, to my mind, the greatest. And of his re-tellings, his Patrocleia stands alone on a very high and lofty plain of ordinary language... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mr. J. F. Barnes
Moments of posturing and murder before the fall of Troy
A exquistely written and consistently gripping new version of parts of the Iliad, starting from Achilles' quarrel with Agamemmon and ending with Achilles arming for battle against... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Aidan J. McQuade
war music - christopher logue
This review also applies to the other parts of Logue's account of Homer: all day permanent red & cold calls. The quality of the poetry is exceptional. Read more
Published 8 months ago by jp mclaughlin
A great read
If you love Homer's Iliad then this wonderful rendition by Christopher Logue, who apparently has not read the original text, is stirring stuff. Read more
Published 24 months ago by Lady M. R. Beaumont
Wonderful poetic rendering of the Iliad
A wonderful, cinematic versiion of parts of the Iliad, which I have been reading and re-reading for years. Read more
Published on 19 Feb 2002 by A. Browne
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