The Iliad I: Books 1-12 (The Loeb Classical Library 170)

Rating:
Summary: "...whether the prophecies of Calchas are true or not..."
Review: The Loeb editions of the classical Greek and Roman
writers are remarkable -- both for their scholarly
contents as well as for the very readable English
translations which accompany the classical words.
The Greek or Latin texts appear on the left side
pages -- and the immediate English translations
appear on the right hand side, opposite.
This Loeb edition of -The Iliad- comes in 2 volumes:
Vol. 1 (ISBN: 0674995791) contains Books I - 12
of -The Iliad-, with an English translation by
A.T. Murray, revised by William F. Wyatt. Vol. 2
(ISBN: 0674995805) contains Books 13 - 24. This
is a 2nd edition of these volumes, issued in 1999.
In explaining why a revision of Murray's translation
was needed, Wyatt says in the "Preface": "A.T.
Murray's translation of the -Iliad- has long set
a standard for accuracy and style. But its archaic
language no longer seems as appropriate as it did
to earlier generations of readers. In revising it to
fit the expectations of today's readers I have changed
little substantively, but have modernized diction
throughout." And Wyatt is true to his word -- the
revised translation reads easily, but still gives
the flavor of Homer's poetic style through repeated
introductory formulas such as: "Then in answer to
him spoke Achilles, swift of foot" and "Then the
incomparable seer took heart, and spoke, saying...".
Also included are the wondrous Homeric similes
with the full force of their acute observations,
poetic flow, and telling imagery. Here is an
example describing the spread of the Achaeans
throughout the camp: "Just as a consuming fire makes
a boundless forest blaze on the peaks of a mountain,
and from afar can the glare be seen, so from their
magnificent bronze, as they marched out, went the
dazzling gleam through the sky to the heavens."
Included in Vol. 1 is an Introduction as well as
an updated short Bibliography of critical text
citations, Editions and commentaries, Recent
translations, Reference, Linguistic, General
works on Homer, and Studies on the Iliad.
And as Achilles says after he has slain Hector,
"There lies by the ships a dead man unwept, unburied --
Patroclus; him will I not forget so long as I am
among the living, and my knees are quick. And even
if in the house of Hades men forget their dead, yet
will I even there remember my dear comrade."
-- Robert Kilgore.

Rating:
Summary: Perfect for its purpose
Review: The Loeb series is meant to aid students, which is why its translations often read very literally. When Murray writes, "The wrath sing, goddess, of Peleus' son Achilles," he is following the word order of the Greek exactly: "Mênin aeide, thea, Pêlêiadeô Achilêos." If you buy this book for the Greek text, the literal English translation will help as a quick reference when stuck on a word. If you buy this book for the English translation, you'll gain a sense of the logic of the Greek language and a much more reliable translation than most.

Rating:
Summary: Perfect for its purpose
Review: The Loeb series is meant to aid students, which is why its translations often read very literally. When Murray writes, "The wrath sing, goddess, of Peleus' son Achilles," he is following the word order of the Greek exactly: "Mênin aeide, thea, Pêlêiadeô Achilêos." If you buy this book for the Greek text, the literal English translation will help as a quick reference when stuck on a word. If you buy this book for the English translation, you'll gain a sense of the logic of the Greek language and a much more reliable translation than most.

Rating:
Summary: One of the greatest epics
Review: This review does not deal with the translation issue. I don't know Ancient Greek so can't really say which the best version is. I used the Penguin and Loeb Classical Library editions (in two books) and found them both equally good. The English from the Loeb was perhaps slightly more formal than the freer flowing prose in the Penguin.

But if you haven't read the Iliad, and aren't too fussed about which version is truer to the Greek or more `poetic', then your main concern must be if it is worth your time (and money) to invest in this epic.

At first I did not appreciate the constant "and his armor clanged over him" which became so repetitious that I began to hear the clanging myself. The relaying of messages, verbatim, was also something that I had to get used to. But after these initial misgivings, I came to enjoy the story. It became engaging and I ended up being attached (if that is possible) to some of the heroes in the novel. I felt for Hector as he tried to protect his city from the devastation that would come about should the Argives gain the upper hand.

The battle scenes were very descriptive. Homer certainly made sure his audience knew exactly what happened, whether the spear punctured the right eye, went in through the kidney or split the head in half. You are even given short biographies of some unknown warrior as he is about to die. Perhaps this is of interest to those studying Homer or Greek literature, but to the average reader it might seem a bit much. I mean, do we really need to know the genealogy of everyone that was involved in the battle? Again, that is something you will have to get used to, as the book progresses.

Even, if you know the story or have seen the recently released Troy, I would suggest you experience the Iliad. Yes, you don't read the Iliad as much as you experience it. I was taken back into a completely foreign culture in a completely different time and yet I found that I could relate to Hector, to Menelaus, to Agamemnon, and yes, even to that braggart Achilles. We should be thankful that Homer's Iliad was preserved so that we, in the 21st century are able to enjoy this masterpiece.

I cannot recommend this book enough, there are some things that at first will seem strange to you, but persevere, because when you are nearing the end of this book, and indeed after you have finished it, you will wish it was longer. Trust me. Read this book.