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The Iliad (Penguin Classics)
 
 
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The Iliad (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

by Homer (Author), Bernard Knox (Introduction), Robert Fagles (Translator) "Iliad" is a word that means "a poem about Ilium" (i.e., Troy), and Homer's great epic poem has been known as "The Iliad" ever since..." (more)
4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 704 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin Classics; New Ed edition (29 April 1999)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0140275363
  • ISBN-13: 978-0140275360
  • Product Dimensions: 21.6 x 14 x 4.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 418,668 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #53 in  Books > Poetry, Drama & Criticism > History & Criticism > Poetry & Poets > Classical, Early & Medieval

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Product Description

Product Description
One of the greatest epics in Western literature, THE ILIAD recounts the story of the Trojan wars. This timeless poem still vividly conveys the horror and heroism of men and gods battling amidst devastation and destruction, as it moves to its tragic conclusion. In his introduction, Bernard Knox observes that although the violence of the Iliad is grim and relentless, it co-exists with both images of civilized life and a poignant yearning for peace.

About the Author
Homer (8th century BC), Greek epic poet to whom are attributed both the Iliad and the Odyssey. Robert Fagles was awarded the PEN/Ralph Manheim Medal for Translation and a 1996 Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Art and Letters. Bernard Knox is a renowned classicist.
Inside This Book (Learn More)
First Sentence
"Iliad" is a word that means "a poem about Ilium" (i.e., Troy), and Homer's great epic poem has been known as "The Iliad" ever since the Greek historian Herodotus so referred to it in the fifth century B.C. Read the first page
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Concordance
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews

19 Reviews
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3 star:
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Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (19 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A readable Iliad in modern idiom, 29 Jun 2002
By Michael Wells Glueck "EditAndPublishYourBook.com" (Nantucket, Massachusetts, U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   
This review is from: The Iliad (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)
Robert Fagles's translation of Homer's Iliad is spiritually if not literally true to the original. Both versions repeat set speeches and descriptions in precisely the same words, and the translation exhibits a fairly regular rhythmic beat. But Homer's Greek was chanted, and the set passages were like refrains in which listeners could, if they chose, join in as a chorus. In English, the repetitions sometimes become tedious, especially when the same speech is given three times in two pages, as in the relay of Zeus's orders in Book II. Especially noteworthy is Bernard Knox's long and fascinating Introduction, a masterpiece of literary criticism and scholarship which conveys Homer's grim attitude toward war, the interplay of divine and human will, and the ancient concepts of honor, courage, and virility in the face of the stark finality of death. Knox also includes a succinct explanation of the quantitative, rather than accentual, basis of Greek (and Latin) verse. For easy readability, Fagles's translation is without rival. For elegance and poetry, however, I recommend Richmond Lattimore's older but still gripping and fluent translation.
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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A readable Iliad in modern idiom, 26 Jun 2002
By Michael Wells Glueck "EditAndPublishYourBook.com" (Nantucket, Massachusetts, U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   
This review is from: The Iliad (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)
Robert Fagles's translation of Homer's Iliad is spiritually if not literally true to the original. Both versions repeat set speeches and descriptions in precisely the same words, and the translation exhibits a fairly regular rhythmic beat. But Homer's Greek was chanted, and the set passages were like refrains in which listeners could, if they chose, join in as a chorus. In English, the repetitions sometimes become tedious, especially when the same speech is given three times in two pages, as in the relay of Zeus's orders in Book II. Especially noteworthy is Bernard Knox's long and fascinating Introduction, a masterpiece of literary criticism which conveys Homer's grim attitude toward war, the interplay of divine and human will, and the ancient concepts of honor, courage, and virility in the face of the stark finality of death. Knox also includes a succinct explanation of the quantitative, rather than accentual, basis of Greek (and Latin) verse. For easy readability, Fagles's translation is without rival. For elegance and poetry, however, I recommend Richmond Lattimore's older but still gripping and fluent translation.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars My Vote for Best Translation of this Exciting Epic Tale!, 20 Jun 1998
By A Customer
This review is from: Iliad - translated by Robert Fagles (Hardcover)
I highly recommend this translation of the classic Homeric epic. I have read many fine translations of this work, but Robert Fagles' translation is by far the best I've seen. Fagles manages to bring the story to life while still maintaining a sense of the poetic beauty of the original. Far from being a dusty and archaic rendition, this translation is instead very much "alive", and truly captures the excitement and beauty of this classic tale. I discovered many new insights that I had missed in my earlier readings of Homer's Illiad, and Robert Fagles' translation makes it clear why this is such a long-standing literary classic.

Also, the "introduction" by the well-respected classicist, Bernard Knox, is a great source of additional,up-to-date information about both the Illiad and the Homeric period of Ancient Greece.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Collectors Library
I love these books. The size is just right, good quality, the pages don't fall out, and a marker ribbon, just like books used to be. Will definitely be getting more. Read more
Published 4 months ago by T. Mills

5.0 out of 5 stars The ground is dark with blood
With many books, translations are negligible, with two obvious exceptions, one is the Bible, and surprisingly the other is The Iliad. Read more
Published 20 months ago by bernie

5.0 out of 5 stars The best story of all time
I absolutely love the Iliad. It is a passionate narrative covering the most significant part of the Trojan war; the events leading up to Hector's death. Read more
Published on 11 Jun 2007 by YaromCMG

5.0 out of 5 stars WAR
War as it was and still is. Forget it's poetry. Just read and it flows.
This is one of the few books that never leaves the reader.
Published on 5 Nov 2006 by Mr. Aw Benington

4.0 out of 5 stars Slaughter and an utter blood bath, all over Helen of Troy!
After the abduction of Menelaus' beautiful wife Helen by Paris of Troy, the various kingdoms of Greece set sail to avenge Menelaus' loss and to reclaim is wife under the agreed... Read more
Published on 31 May 2003 by razorsharp76

3.0 out of 5 stars Gory, gruesome, and epic
A millennia-old precursor to the likes of Gladiator, the Iliad is at times a quite gruesome read that doesn't shirk from describing the sheer carnage that war represents. Read more
Published on 20 Feb 2003 by Mr. Paul J. Bradshaw

5.0 out of 5 stars A Magnificent Iliad To Listen To
The Jacobi oral rendition of Robert Fagles translation of Homer's Iliad is absolutely magnificent. I've spent many hours (6 cassettes worth) absolutely transfixed by this great... Read more
Published on 25 Jun 1999

3.0 out of 5 stars A good poem, but it's not the Iliad
This poet's rendition of the _Iliad_ is enchanting, flows well, and may often fill one with a dramatic sense of awe. Read more
Published on 8 Feb 1999

4.0 out of 5 stars Riveting performance, but cheapened by abridgment
This is an absolutely riveting reading of a great translation; I listened to it on the Ohio Turnpike and got a speeding ticket, so "into" the performance I was... Read more
Published on 1 Jan 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Book!
I found this book adventurous and well-written. If I were Siskel and Ebert rating books, this would be 2 thumbs up!
Published on 6 Nov 1998

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