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Summary: Some of the best stuff ever written
Review: What can be said about this masterpiece that has not been said already? There is good reason behind measuring all epic poetry up against the standard defined by Homer in his two great works, the Iliad and The Odyssey. From Achilles' heated argument with Agamemnon over his slave-girl to the moving final scene of Priam begging for a lost body, this work is absolutely phenomenal. I cannot find even the words to praise it enough.
The translation done here by Robert Fitzgerald is excellent. The verse flows smoothly, the epithets are well-placed and not cumbersome, and the action is crisp and pure. Fitzgerald did a wonderful job of this translation, preserving (in my mind, though I've never read the Greek) the integrity of this poem very well. This great epic should be required reading for everyone.
Rating:
Summary: An English verse translation without rival
Review: When Fitzgerld translated the Illiad his goal was to get the feeling of the work. When you read Fiztgerald's Illiad you imagine the velocity of Achilles the runner and feel the heat of his rage, you understand the craftyness of Crooked minded Odyesses and the hubris of Aggamemmon. I have read a most verse translation of the Illiad and this one best captures the emoions and motion of this poem. Fitzgeralds translation is not as exact to the Greek in word for word sense as Richmond Lattimore's, but it is exacting in how it presents its characters in this story and struggles they face. The Illiad is famous for its repeated phrasing, and epitaph for the characters, Fitzgerald chose the best way to translate the repetion in the poem to fit the characters persona so that they became effective in conveying the soul of the characters. This Illiad is great for the first time reader as well as those who have read the Illiad before. This is a fresh easy to read version modern in its language but capturing anchient themes of Homer. This is one of those ten books that I would be stranded on a desert Island with. This story has passed the test of time and Fitzgeralds translation is as timeless, a true classic. I also suggest his translation of the Aenied and Odyessy
Rating:
Summary: review of the iliad
Review: With the upcoming blockbuster hit of troy to open next month i felt that it was important for me to read the iliad one more time. I must say that this book was still as exciting as the first time i read it. Fitzgerald's use of translation is unsurpassed by any of his competitors and Homer himself would be proud of the translation. I reccomend this book for anyone who enjoys a love story entangled with murder, mythology and triumph. As always my favorite character in this book was Achilles and the best passage was the graphic language used in the fight scene between achilles and hector. Read this book right away and i hope you enjoy it.
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