The Iliad

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Summary: A side by side comparison
Review: The Everyman's Library editions of the Iliad and Odyssey are far more poetic, powerful, and grand than the common modern insipid prose versions. (I confess that I am puzzled by the popularity of such prose versions.) The writings of Homer were a centerpiece of Greek culture for a thousand years, and were so powerful that, 700 years later, Alexander the Great coveted a reputation as a modern Achilles! A translation MUST attempt to do justice to so great and lasting a work. After purchasing a highly praised modern prose translation I was deeply disappointed. So I put SEVERAL translations side by side and read from all of them. The Everyman's Library editions were excellent. Thorough reading confirmed this opinion. I am at this moment clicking through a search of all of the Everyman's Library books in hopes of finding other equally good translations. The bindings of the cloth hardcover books are exceptionally well built. I would recommend buying the hardcover editions; these books you WILL be re-reading. (Note: If you enjoy much popular writing then this review isn't meant for you.)

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Summary: The Iliad good and boring
Review: The Iliad is a great book about mythology in ancient times. I thought that the book was well written, but it had a lot of extraneous information throughout. It takes a long time to read for it seems as if the story flows slowly. Since I found it was taking a long time to read I was getting bored with it. It's not like a book where you pick it up and can't put it down. It has a lot of good vocabulary in it and is good to read for an English class. Overall it was a good story but it was long a drawn out too much.

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Summary: A classic for a reason
Review: The Iliad is a tale that is as interesting or even more interesting than anything you'll find in your local bookstore. However, it is unapologetic in its political incorrectness (why wouldn't it be?). The violence is graphic and women are given and taken as prizes. And this is what is surprising and great about the Iliad. It is raw, and it throws you into a Greek universe of battle, honor, and fate without self-conscious reservation.

There are reasons other than enjoyment to read this epic. Along with the Odyssey, Homer's works are the most famous pieces of ancient literature. They are often alluded to by other writings, and are also of historical significance.

Before you start the Iliad, you might want to read up on Greek mythology. It isn't necessary, but it's probably much harder to relate to if you aren't very comfortable with the characteristics and stories of the Greek gods. I cannot make comparisons among translations, but I found Fitzgerald's to be very readable and his words carry the tone and emotion of the story well.

The Iliad is not just about the Trojan war itself. It is also about the individuals who must face each other in battle, their decisions, and their follies. Most of all, it is the story of Akhilleus (Fitzgerald's spelling), and his choice between a heroic life cut short, or a long peaceful life without glory. Of course everyone won't like it, especially if it's assigned for a class, but if you have an interest in the classics, you can't pass up the Iliad.

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Summary: Anger Be Now Your Song Immortal One...
Review: The Iliad, as with other Greek poetry, was poetry intended to be recited orally as opposed to being read. Fitzgerald's backgroung in poetry brings out the lyrical passion of the Iliad so prized by the Greeks as no other translation has done. Other translations, although faithful, are hampered by archaic language and idioms that make little sense today. I strongly recommend this translation more than any other.

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Summary: review of the iliad
Review: The Illiad is a good book about the battle of Troy. The book describes the battles quite well, maybe too well for some peoples likeing. In my opinion I thought it was a good book, but was hard to read and understand who was talking to who. All in all I think that if you like Greek Myth then this my be a book that you may want to read.

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Summary: Illiad myth or legend
Review: The Illiad is a good book about the battle of Troy. The book describes the battles quite well, maybe too well for some peoples likeing. In my opinion I thought it was a good book, but was hard to read and understand who was talking to who. All in all I think that if you like Greek Myth then this my be a book that you may want to read.

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Summary: Er...
Review: The Odessey was spectacular, but this book is so damn boring! I couldn't sit through reading it!!! I'm sure that it IS a great book, but it isn't my type of language.

Rating:
Summary: A hard book to read, but probably worth it
Review: The story of the wrath of Achilles, and of the Trojan war. Bold and brave men, stubborn men, dead men, and one notoriously beautiful woman.

It's called the greatest war story of all time. I can't really argue with that, because I haven't read many war stories. But the nature of war does capture what is good and bad -- or hard -- about the Iliad.

The high emotions lead to high drama which is good reading. Epic porportions make you wish to live in a grand age and commit grand deeds. The characters are larger than life, demi-gods in themselves, and it is easy to exult in their achievements and lament their shortcomings. The story provokes me to think about such notions as honor, fate, freedom, love, loyalty, and hatred. It's no wonder college professors and high school teachers love this book so much -- there's no shortage of things to write essays about.

On the other hand, it is often tediously gory. Pages and pages, especially through the middle, of gouging out eyes, spears through shoulder blades, guts spilling on the floor, and the like. Unless you're thirteen and like to wear camo, this isn't much fun. It takes some serious perseverance to push through it and find the "good stuff".

I picked up a different translation, a novelization, and I must strongly recommend reading the Iliad in verse. It adds something vital -- maybe reading about war and death and gore in verse makes it feel a little more poetic.

I'm not sorry I read it, but I don't plan on ever reading it again.

If you'd like to discuss the Iliad with me, e-mail me at [e-mail]. but be nice.

Rating:
Summary: Action-Packed Originality!
Review: This classic is full of enough action to satisfy the appetite of any video game loving teenager. I was hooked from page one and am now excited about reading the Odyssey next. Stick with the translation, it is the best out there. These are characters that you will not soon forget.

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Summary: Great Greek to me
Review: This is a very tough-minded translation that brings vividly home to the reader both the strengths and absurdities of Homer's great tale. First-time readers might want to do a little background reading in Greek history and geography of the period to make complete sense of it, especially in America where classical education has virtually disappeared. Fitzgerald's work is the kind that begs to be recited aloud, as Homer would have, and you can't do much better.