The Iliad

Set in the ninth year of the war between Troy and Greece the Iliad is an epic poem covering 41 days of this tragic war. The story centers around an argument between the two main heroes of the Greek side (or the Achaeans as Homer called them): Agamemnon, the king of Mycenae and commander of the Greek forces, and Achilles, the most powerful warrior in the Greek army. The affront to Achilles by Agamemnon wounds Achille's pride. He vows to stay out of the war and in doing so Zeus tilts the scales of fate to the Trojans. With the Greek army facing almost certain defeat Achilles sends Patroclus, his closest friend, to help the Achaeans. He warns Patroclus, however, not to push the Trojans back to their walls, but Patroclus didn't listen. He was killed in battle by Hector, the Trojan commander. This Trojan victory would, however, bring Achilles into the war and turn the tide of battle.The Iliad brings the horrors of war with startling detail. Men slashed to pieces on the Trojan plain aren't just nameless enemies they are real people. Homer tells us who they were. We know their names; we know something of their family. Homer makes us care about them. He gives us a clear insight into the mind of the soldier in the ancient world. With tales of courage, honor and principle one can almost feel the horror of this titanic battle.Robert Fagles does a masterful job in translating this epic poem; now more than 2700 years old. I found the reading easy and quite enjoyable but one would do well to set aside plenty of time for reading. The story is over 15,000 lines in length. Fagles provides a nice introduction, covering the major themes of the story, and a glossary of names and a pronunciation guide at the back of the book. I highly recommend the book as one that belongs on everyone's book shelf.

I long ago determined that the world of those interested in the Classical Literature of the Ancient Greeks that when it comes to Homer's epic poems there are those who prefer the "Iliad" and those who prefer the "Odyssey." My choice is for the story of the rage of Achilles. From Achilles fateful confrontation with Agamemnon over Briseis of the lovely arms to the magnificently emotional ending where King Priam comes to beg for the body of his slain son, Hector, from Achilles, I find this story has greater resonance than the tale of Odysseus. The epic story also seems to me to be more classically Greek, with the great hero who acts out of anger, comes to regret his folly, and seeks to make amends with a great deed. Achilles is similar to Hercules in this regard, and although they are both strictly considered demi-gods, the Achaean hero ultimately seems more human. Plus, Achilles stature is enhanced by his opposition to the noble Hector. Add to this the fact that all the gods and goddesses of Olympus are actively involved in the proceedings and I am convinced the "Iliad" is the more worthy book for inclusion into most classes dealing with Classical Mythology or the Ancient Greeks.This leads us then to the question of which edition to use, and in this regard I have found this translation by Robert Fagles to be vastly superior to anything else out there. Other reviewers have commented on the fantastic audio version read by Derek Jacobi and while I would endorse being able to listen to the "Iliad" being told as reflecting the oral tradition in which the epic poem was created, I would not advise having a class listen to the tapes in their entirety. But letting them listen to a book, probably the first one, would give them a sense for how it was done way back when. The supporting material is also more than adequate: The introduction covers both Homer's use of language and the various players involved in the Trojan War. In the notes at the end of the volume Fagles details some interesting points dealing with the translation and Pronouncing Glossary that also tells you the first book:line where each character appears. Final Note: If you teach Sophocles' "Oedipus Rex," see what Homer had to say about the king of Thebes in the "Iliad." You might find that to be of more than passing interest.

This is the third translation I have read of this book and probably my favorite version. This is an epic war story of love, lust, hate, despair, and the brutal realities of the mental and physical aspects of war. It doesn’t hold back and it’s quite graphic. The dialogue is amazing in this book. A pretty incredible literary work considering the time that it was composed. I have read a lot of Greek Classics. This might be one of my favorites.

This translation meant for the modern reader makes this complex masterpiece of epic warfare accessible, enjoyable, and memorable. A must.

Love this book. Bought a used copy