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Book Overview
When Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey appeared in 2017--revealing the ancient poem in a contemporary idiom that was "fresh, unpretentious and lean" (Madeline Miller, Washington Post)--critics lauded it as "a revelation" (Susan Chira, New York Times) and "a cultural landmark" (Charlotte Higgins, Guardian) that would forever change how Homer is read in English. Now Wilson has returned with an equally revelatory translation of Homer's other...
Format:Hardcover
Language:English
ISBN:1324001801
ISBN13:9781324001805
Release Date:September 2023
Publisher:W. W. Norton & Company
Length:848 Pages
Weight:1.18 lbs.
Dimensions:1.5" x 6.5" x 9.5"
Customer Reviews
5 ratings
great!
Published by Areesha , 2 months ago
exactly what you want and expect when thrifting homer
Misleading Order
Published by Raychel Chang , 1 year ago
I'm extremely disappointed in my order. Based on the ISBN and picture displayed, I believed I was receiving Richard Lattimore's translation of Homer's Iliad and paid almost $13 for my order; I instead received a janky study guide to Homer's Iliad that has a price tag of $1 on it. It is not at all what was pictured when I placed my order and I feel misled. I triple-checked everything before ordering and still received something not at all what I ordered.
Great Epic
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 17 years ago
I absolutley adored this book. I am reading the Odyssey now. I recommend you read both. It adds depth to the whole tale.
Under Rated Translation
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 17 years ago
I don't think that this translation has been given the respect it deserves. It could be called low-brow or simplified, suitable only for children. I think such comments spring from snobbishness. The langauge is simple, but forceful. It moves at a short, brisk pace, suitable for a war story. It is meant to be read out loud. Readability is nothing to be ashamed of either. If you doubt that, try reading Lattimore's translation of the Iliad. I would probably choose Fagles over this translation, if I had to choose one, but I recommend taking a look at this.
The best Iliad for the general reader
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 18 years ago
The Iliad is one of the greatest treasures of Western Civilization-and not just because a teacher told you it was. On the surface, it offers raw emotions, visceral action sequences and colorful characters you admire and hate, often at the same time. But it is much, much deeper than that. The scene where Hector bids his young wife good-bye and holds up his infant son to the gods, praying that the boy will one day be a better man than ever he himself was, has never been equaled as a statement of what it means to be a man, husband or father. The debates about honor and duty are still the same we face every day. The humanity, insight and profound philosophy are remarkable-especially for a work now 3,000 years old. The problem? How do you convey all that power? How do you do so in a way that captures the feel of original? Iliad translations have started to come fast and furious, as every ten years or so someone tries to tackle the monumental task of bringing the poem to modern readers. The process isn't helped by the fact that the text was already 300 years old to the classical Greeks like Aristotle, Sophocles and Euripides-making it as vaguely old-fashioned as Shakespeare is to us. Should it sound antiquated to us, too? If you really want a line by line translation, one that has some kind of meter that approaches the Greek original, the obvious choice is Lattimore's classic translation. It has the side benefit now of being somewhat dated in its English usage too. That said, for just a good ol' read of the Iliad, Lattimore isn't even my third choice. For all its accuracy, I've always felt I was reading a textbook, written by a classics scholar rather than an honest-to-goodness writer. Lombardo, on the other hand, is my preferred translation for sitting back and reading what is still a rip-roaring adventure (with enough deep thoughts to give it extra weight). Lombardo confesses there really is no way to adequately convey the "musicality" of the original, and goes on to re-cast it in freer poetry, based on natural speech. He's built up his translation thru multiple performances of the poems, with drum accompaniment, in public places, and his Iliad is honed to a razor sharp edge. The musty old poem students rolled their eyes at becomes a terrifying, beautiful beast that grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go. It is so immediate, trilling and relevant. Lombardo's translation is an Iliad you will feel, not just respect. Pick up the Lombardo translation and you will understand immediately why this work is still called the cornerstone of Western culture.
The Iliad Mentions in Our Blog
Divine Inspiration
Published by William Shelton
From the earliest moments of mankind, even until today, our species has been compelled to look up and ponder our origin. This instinct naturally leant itself to the origin of books and writing itself, with much of the written word produced by mankind having been devoted to recording our beliefs.