Rating: 
Summary: The unknown Homer.
Review: (Before I start, let me presume you know the story).If people want you to read Homer they say things like: he's the father of western literature or: he stood at the cradle of our civilization. They probably are right but let me give you another reason to read the Iliad: the humour of Homer. I give two examples. When things turn sour for the Greeks and the Trojan soldiers almost destroyed their camp, Nestor - the military advisor for he's to old to fight - calls the young Greek soldiers at his side and tells them how brave and invincible he was when hé was young. You can imagine the Greeks listening politely but impatiently to Nestor's sermon. What Nestor means is that the youth of today is worthless. I've heard this before. What makes you smile is the bragging of Nestor and the fact that apparently the youngsters are worthless since three thousand years.
Later on, when some of the gods reproach Zeus with not helping the Trojans, Zeus answers: 'You know my wife! If she finds out I'm helping Troy she will be mad at me!' If Homer was the father of literature then Zeus was the father of the henpecked husbands.
If you are reluctant to read Homer, try to discover some other examples of his humour.
Rating:
Summary: Well, obviously . . .
Review: . . . it gets five stars. For those having some trouble with the book, remember that this work lived for centuries as oral performance. Bear that in mind as you read it and try to "read aloud in you head" rather than rush through the text in a less than engaged manner. It may take longer, but you'll get a lot more out of it. WARNING: This book IS going to make you want to learn Classical Greek and it may take while before you can shake that desire (I am still trying).
Rating:
Summary: Stunning
Review: Dr. Fitzgerald's translation of Homer's 'Iliad' is, in short, stunning. This myth-like, ten dayaccount of the onset of the Trojan War is mind-boggling. Like Victor Hugo, Homer makes his characters larger-than-life, and imbues the story with divine intervention from none other than the Greek Gods and Goddesses. Fitzgerlad's translation is concise while maintaining the poetic flow of the original narrative. I suggest reading his introduction both before and after the main story. When you read it after reading the main text, it will be all that more interesting and relevant, and serves as a bit of a refresher regarding what you have just read. While 'The Odyssey' strikes me as more engaging, due to its quicker pace and more fantastical plot, 'The Iliad' is just as readable, for it is a proud story of proud men, women, and Gods, and will leave you calling out for Zeus to help you win your next important life battle.
Rating: 
Summary: Great, even for the average reader
Review: Firstly, I have not read this particular translation, so I'm just giving my general opinion on the book. Secondly, I don't know much about Greek Mythology or History, and this is the first piece of Greek Literature I read. So I'll say, for those in the same position, don't hesitate to read it. The language is difficult at first, but you get used to it after a few pages. And since it was written as a poem, phrases and expressions are repeated throughout, which makes it easier.It is an epic story about the final tenth year of the Trojan War in which the legendary warrior Achillies is denied the maiden Briseis by king Agammemnon. He refuses to join in battle and remains in his tent nursing his anger. Eventually he goes to face the Trojan warrior Hector on the battlefield when his pain over the tragic loss of his comrades overcomes his anger. It is very different to anything I've read before, the action is constant, and there are no short exchanges of dialogue. The descriptions are on such a grand-scale. Emotions, whether anger, sadness or pain (there's plenty of that!) are always extreme. You get a sort of high reading about such legendary characters in a work 3000 years old, especially because of the archaic quality of the language. Watching Zeus and Hera argue is hilarious! It can be very moving in some parts. Read it with a reference book or a 'Companion to The Iliad' or something, it would be very difficult to understand otherwise. My edition is in prose, and from what I've read of other reviews, I suppose I missed out for not reading it in verse. Reading this book also helps to understand allusions made to Greek Literature in other classics. So, that's my un-expert opinion on the book. If I was more familiar with Greek Literature or History, I would perhaps appreciate it more. But for anyone, it remains an enjoyable and enlightening read.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Translation: Smooth and Poetic
Review: Fitzgerald's masterful translation, in my opinion, accurately captures the mood, feeling and poetic style of Homer. Because the novel wasn't around when Homer was, and because Fitzgerald's translation stays true to the poetic style, the epic poem comes off feeling more authentic. The plot moves, is easy to understand, and Fitzgerald captures the numerous Homeric similes. Those not familiar with mythology may first want to gain a basic knowledge of it before reading this book. It is suggested by me that a basic knowledge of ancient greek writings, like Homer's, is helpful because of allusions made to them in works of so many other authors like Chaucer and Shakespeare. This is the translation to get!
Rating:
Summary: An excellent translation of a timeless classic
Review: I began the Iliad because I thought it was a book every cultured person should have read. I was expecting it to be boring, dull and very monotonous reading. But after the first few pages I was wrapped up in the storyline which was gripping and not at all slow moving. Aside from the all too graphic battles, there are certain scenes which were too dramatic to be forgotten. The main problem for the casual reader will be keeping track of the hundreds of characters, some of whom are mentioned only just before their death. At several points the story seems unreal, such as long speeches in the midst of battle, but this can be overlooked. Robert Fitzgerald`s translation is very easy to read, although I suggest reading the introduction, as this will help explain Homer`s unique style of writing.
Rating:
Summary: Fitzgerald as poet
Review: I bought this book for its cover, because it was simple and orange. In many ways the translation is simple as well. This translation brought the story to life for me than any other (of which there are only two others that I tried to read.) In this translation, the work of Homer, dead, for millenia is as rough, violent, poetic, and shamelessly beautiful as the time which Homer first recited it. Just thinking of Achilles spelled as "Akhilleus" reminds me that the original verse is in a different language and this is not something from a publisher-editor-poet collaboration. This is gutteral and intense poetry where slaughter, love, and epic events happen every day. And though that time is past, it lives on through this work in all its rosy fingered grandeur.
Rating:
Summary: Have Homer, Will Visit Ancient Greece.
Review: I first read this book when I was 9 years old and 14 years later it is still one of my favourite books. Set in the the war-torn plains of ancient Troy, Divine Olympus and cloud covered Mount Ida, with vividly realised characters, both human and divine, all intertwined in a tale of lust, revenge, envy and destiny, the Iliad is one of the most complete maps of a raging human heart ever written.
Rating: 
Summary: Avoid this (Fitzgerald) Translation
Review: I have recently reviewed all the available Iliad translations for a twelve week book discussion on the Iliad that I am moderating. I was extremely disappointed in the Fitzgerald translation, particularly because I consider his Odyssey excellent.
Fitzgerald has not produced a translation so much as a retelling. In favor, apparently, of making the story more "accessible," whatever that means, he has used language that even an average eighth grader would find, in many places, simplistic and pedestrian.
If you just want a quick, easy read through the basic Iliad story, a step or two up from a Classics Comics, this book will do (though you would save time just reading the Cliff Notes). But if you want more than just the story, if you also want to enjoy the richness of Homer, the depth of insights, the complex language that enriches the Greek text, avoid this translation.
Lattimore, though it is some fifty years old and modern research brings into question a few of his word choices, is still the richest, the closest to Homeric quality translation of the Iliad available. It is definitely my first recommendation. It does, admittedly, require close attention to read in parts, but it well repays the effort, and once you adapt to his style, which doesn't take long, it is an engrossing and highly rewarding translation to read.
If you want a somewhat easier to digest translation than Lattimore, the more recent Fagels translation is your best choice. He simplifies the languge without greatly sacrificing the richness and complexity of the original. It is not as good as Lattimore, but it is still quite acceptable.
There are other translations out there -- Pope, Rieu, Butler, among others -- but they are more niche translations. If you are into doggerel, Pope will give you more than you could wish for. Rieu and Butler are workmanlike translations, but both are prose translations. They are useful for study; because they don't have to worry about choosing words to fit a poetic meter they can be more literally accurate than any poetic translation, but reading a prose translation of Homer is sort of like reading the text of the Messiah without any of the music; yes, you understand the content, but it's hardly an equivalent experience.
So my recommendations for Homer translations are:
Iliad: First by a long shot, Lattimore; second, Fagels, third, no third place, last place, any other
Odyssey: First place shared, Lattimore and Fitzgerald, second Fagels.
Rating:
Summary: it was ok i guess...
Review: i heard my translation was more poetic than this one but since the fagles translation isnt carried by this site, ill put my $.02 in here i guess... honestly i didnt like this book much the first time i read it (over this past summer for a 10th grade reading list) i found it boring and at times gory. but then we started reading it again in class and something strange happened , i started to actually understand what was going on and i strated to analyze the characters more deeply and i started to almost like it . im not going to go as far as saying id read it again on my own free will cause i definetly wont, but if you read this book read the odyssey as well i liked it better ..i dont particulary recommend this book or this translation but if you really wanna read it , search for the Fagles translation , itll make it less painful
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