The Iliad

Rating:
Summary: One of the great works of western literature...
Review: Many mark "The Iliad" as the first major work of western literature. Others will give works such as "The Epic of Gilgamesh" that honour, nonetheless "The Iliad" is truly a great poem. In fact, both "The Iliad", and "The Odyssey" were tremendously influential (some even liken their prominence to that of the Bible) to the ancient Greek society that would provide much of the framework for the modern western world. Few other works can make such claims. "The Iliad" is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the origins of western thought.

One word of advice, however, is that if you are unfamiliar with the epic style, you may wish to begin with "The Odyssey", despite the fact that, at least in plot, it is the successor to "The Iliad". "The Odyssey" is a far easier read, and found by many to be more exciting than "The Iliad" (which can, at times, be somewhat tedious). If you are left thirsting for more, tackle "The Iliad".

Rating:
Summary: The real Iliad, made for kids
Review: Seeing the recent movie Troy made me think about the kinds of stories I grew up with, and the kinds of stories my niece will grow up with. She likes MTV and television, and she likes to read, so she'll get a lot of stories. But I wonder if she'll get the classics?

This is the Iliad adapted for children. I would say the age range is as young as 8 years old up to 12 or 13 years of age. There are only really 40 pages, and a dozen of those pages are full color and nicely done pages showing in what might be a modern stylizing of ancient Greek drawings the action of the story.

This is very basic story. There is a prologue that sets the stage, that talks about the situation with Paris choosing the fairest of the goddesses and the stealing away of Helen. There is then a chapter on the quarrel, set after nine years of fighting. The second chapter has the duel between Paris and Menelaus, with Paris being saved miraculously. The idea that Achilles might leave the battle comes into it, but then Patroclus is also involved, who gets killed in the battle by Hector, who is then killed later in another battle by Achilles.

The story ends with the death and funeral of Hector, except to say that fighting resumed after the truce. The Trojan Horse is not in this story, but instead is found in Odyssey.

Because this is a book for children, there is a two page glossary of names at the back of the book, divided by giving the Greek side, the Trojan side, and the gods and goddesses involved. This is a very different story from the recent film, and given that it is a simplified version of the story for intended for children, it is a very good job of telling the Iliad. There is a companion volume also adapted by Diana Stewart for the Odyssey. The artwork in this book was done by Charles Shaw, and is quite colorful and interesting.

A good book for kids.

Rating:
Summary: Among the best books of all time
Review: This is an amazing book. The story of Achilles and his fellow Greeks is an amazing tale of pride, love, greed, anger, rage, and human emotion. This book is a wealth of wisdom and philosophy of the ancient Greeks told in the form of an epic. In this book, we see how the pride of Achilles nearly destroys the entire Greek army, how the greed of Agamemnon and his pride cause incalculable losses to the Greeks, and how the cowardly Paris steals a man's wife and lets everyone else fight for him. This is more than a mere story, but a book of ancient wisdom second only to the Bible. The story is amazing... but it is the demonstration of the evils of life and their consequences that make this book truly great. The feelings of the characters, and the ability to identify with their thoughts, feelings, and emotions really turn a war story into a story of the human psyche. 5 stars also go to the translator who has made this book as easy to read as any piece of modern literature.

Rating:
Summary: Review of Martin Hammond's translation of the Iliad
Review: This is specifically a review of Martin Hammond's translation of the Iliad (I've noticed that reviews for different editions often appear lumped together). This is by far the best translation of the Iliad I have ever encountered and it led me to finally read the Iliad from beginning to end without skipping bits or skimming. It is a modern prose translation but is also extremely faithful to the meaning of the original Greek (since the translator is not forced to try to turn his translation into verse). I simply cannot recommend it enough. Another touch that I like is that Hammond has given the different characters names that are far closer to the original Greek (e.g. Achilleus, Aias, Patroklos, Hektor).

Rating:
Summary: Homer's The Iliad
Review: This translation was as good as any. I like that the book came across as a story, which is very important when reading. Some translations have the numbers in the margin telling you what line you are on. Though those numbers are used when reading a poem, and though the Iliad is a poem, I think the numbers would soon overwhelm or distract me and reveal what a long poem the Iliad really is. This translation, however, reveals the Iliad as an exciting and historical story. I usually don't get into these types of epics, but this translation made it easy for me to understand and become involved with the story. And if I did get stuck, the introduction provided a very nice explanation of what was happening. This translation worked well for me and I would definitely recommend it to others.

Rating:
Summary: Iliad on CD - very good
Review: very good rendition. pace of reading is good and passionate without being melodramatic. very entertaining for long commutes or car trips. however, if you haven't read the book or are not somewhat familiar with the story already, it can be difficult at times to keep all the characters straight. however, there is a brief synoptic insert that comes with the CD and will help to read quickly before listening.

Rating:
Summary: Iliad on CD - very good
Review: very good rendition. pace of reading is good and passionate without being melodramatic. very entertaining for long commutes or car trips. however, if you haven't read the book or are not somewhat familiar with the story already, it can be difficult at times to keep all the characters straight. however, there is a brief synoptic insert that comes with the CD and will help to read quickly before listening.

Rating:
Summary: Hammond or Fagles? ...Paris passes on this one...
Review: [From Boating on the Catawba...in the
"Musketaquid"]

If you pass on reading this work in the
original Greek [*Homeri Opera: Tomus I,
Iliadis Libros I-XII and Tomus II, Iliadis
Libros XIII-XXIV*; Oxford Classical Texts,
Oxford University Press], then I would
suggest these two excellent translations
as your possible choice for enlightenment,
inspiration, and enrichment through the
English language...and through the wondrous
powers and arts in the minds of these two
translators: Robert Fagles or Martin Hammond.
I first fell under the spell of Fagles'
art and poetry and power in his translation
of Aeschylus' *Oresteia.* [Penguin Classics]
And his co-creation of Homer's wonder, through
English, is also compelling.
But I also am very much drawn to Martin Hammond's
prose translation of the *Iliad.*
Here are the two tranlators presenting the
same Homeric passages -- judge for yourself:

[...the coming of Apollo into battle; the
smiting of Patroklos...*Iliad*; Book 16]

Fagles:

...and Patroclus charged the enemy, fired for the kill.
Three times he charged with the headlong speed of Ares,
screaming his savage cry, three times he killed nine men.
Then at the fourth assault Patroclus like something
superhuman--
then, Patroclus, the end of life came blazing up
before you,
yes, the lord Apollo met you there in the heart of
battle,
the god, the terror! Patroclus never saw him coming,
moving across the deadly rout, shrouded in thick mist
and on he came against him and looming up behind him
now--
slammed his broad shoulders and back with the god's
flat hand
and his eyes spun as Apollo knocked the helmet off
his head
and under his horses' hoofs it tumbled, clattering on
with its four forged horns and its hollow blank eyes
and its plumes were all smeared in the bloody dust.
Forbidden before this to defile its crest in dust,
it guarded the head and handsome brow of a god,
a man like a god, Achilles.

Hammond:

And Patroklos charged at the Trojans with murder in
his heart. Three times then he charged like the
swift war-god himself, shouting fearfully, and
three times he killed nine men. But when for the
fourth time he flung himself on like a god, then,
Patroklos, the ending of your life was revealed.
Phoibos met you in the battle's fury, terrible god.
Patroklos did not see him moving through the rout.
Apollo came against him hidden in thick mist, and
stood behind him, and struck his back and broad
shoulders with the flat of his hand, so that his
eyes spun round. Then Phoibos Apollo knocked the
helmet from his head, and the great masking helmet
rolled clattering under the horses' feet, and the
hair of its crest was sullied with blood and dust.
Before now it was not permitted for this horse-
crested helmet to be sullied in the dust, but it
guarded the head and fine brow of a godlike man,
Achilleus.
* * * * * * * * *
Both editions also contain excellent Introductions,
with the Hammond edition having a Book by Book
critical summary as part of the Introduction.
However, the Fagles edition Introduction [written
by Bernard Knox] contains much excellent historical
background, poetic explanation, and wonderful
passages such as this:

"The texture of Homeric epic was for the classic
age of Greece like that of the Elgin Marbles for
us--weathered by time but speaking to us directly:
august, authoritative, inimitable -- a vision of
life fixed forever in forms that seem to have
been molded by gods rather than men."
* * * * * * * * *