The Epic of Gilgamesh

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Summary: The first great hero in the history of Western literature
Review: "The Epic of Gilgamesh" dates from the third millennium B.C., making it the oldest epic poem in world literature. It is a relatively short work, which explains why over half of this little volume introduces the ancient text of the first ancient hero. The fullest extant text of the Gilgamesh was found in the Akkadian-language on 12 incomplete clay tablets found at Nineveh in the library of the Assyrian King Ashurbanipal. The narrative gaps have been filled in, somewhat, by fragments found elsewhere. Historians think that Gilgamesh might have been a ruler in southern Mesopotamia, although there is no historical evidence for any of the exploits covered in this narrative or the five poems written about the hero. Cultural anthropologists believe that Gilgamesh was a great king whose name became associated with pretty much every major legend or mythical tale in that culture.

The epic breaks down into six main narratives, the two most famous of which would be "The Story of the Flood," with its obvious parallels to the stories of a great flood in the Bible and Ovid's "Metamorphoses," and "The Coming of Enkidu"/"Ishtar and Gilgamesh, and the Death of Enkidu." "The Epic of Gilgamesh" is the fundamental mythic tale in Western Civilization, but tends to be relegated to the shelf in most classes unless in happens to be included in an anthology. His quests for the Spring of Youth and immortality have been echoed in so many other tales. I have always thought that Gilgamesh is a more important figure than Beowulf, but that would be a decidedly minority opinion. I just wish this little volume was not so expensive because I think that hurts its utility in classes dealing with mythology, legend and/or folklore.

Rating:
Summary: The BEST Gilgamesh out there
Review: Danny Jackson's Gilgamesh is the best translation out there for 21st century American readers. It captures the essence of what may be the first and most important work of fiction in human history, yet his modern language brings the story alive in a way no previous translator has done. He does this by treating it as what it was written to be: the ancient world's version of a modern blockbuster movie, not a dry-as-dust study in how boring a professor can make literature or history. (For those of you who wonder, I have a Ph.D. in history from the University of California, and a love of and healthy respect for both literature and history, which I teach.) I was surprised to read the review from Tempe, AZ (a prof at AZ State?) who denigrated Jackson's work. I have taught Gilgamesh at four seperate colleges and Universities over 14 years, and the one universal complaint I got from students was: this is boring! The only translation students unanimously enjoyed, actually read all the way through, and learned from, was Jackson's. I first used his text in 1993, and it has been a priceless part of my teaching arsenal ever since. My students love it. I recently switched teaching jobs and found myself stuck with my predecessor's choice of Gilgamesh texts: Sanders' translation. My students, predictably, found it obtuse, dry, and lifeless. I am now sent to teach Gilgamesh again this fall, and using Jackson, I know the story will be well received AND useful to my students. BOTTOM LINE: If you want to read a smashing, exciting, and readable heroic epic from the dawn of time, the first ever written, buy Danny Jackson's translation of Gilgamesh. It is the best.

Rating:
Summary: Very readable
Review: I am always suspicious of books with introductory material nearly as long as the text (61 pages vs. 96 pages). Unfortunately, this book confirms my prejudice. The front material provides an easy and useful summary of the material, history of the translation, the 19th century shock at the flood myth etc. The material is superficial - appropriate for late high school students looking for the "good stuff" without any interest in the depth of the story. The translation itself is very readable - almost too much so as the missing portions of the text are nearly invisible. The illustrations are very appropriate to the text as translated. I would recommend this volume for use as a very early introduction to epic literature or as a light summer read.