Iliad And Odyssey

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The Iliad and The Odyssey are two of the oldest works of Western literature—yet these ancient myths still offer powerful lessons for our times. From the fascinating fall of Troy to Odysseus's perilous journey home, from the gods and goddesses to the Sirens and the suitors, the events and characters of these epic tales captivate us, teach us, and inspire us. Their influence can be seen far and wide, from James Joyce's Ulysses to the movie sensation Troy, starring Brad Pitt.Whether you've read Homer's original stories or you've only enjoyed their modern-day descendants, you'll love this Canterbury Classics edition of Iliad and Odyssey. The perfect book to complete any bookshelf, Iliad and Odyssey features an eye-catching leather-bound cover with gold foil stamping, as well as fine ivory paper with gilded edges. You'll be moved by these magical works, and then delight in displaying this beautiful book in your home.A classic keepsake for fans of Greek mythology, as well as all great literature, Iliad and Odyssey is the perfect addition to any library.Lexile score: 1290L

Leather Bound: 736 pages

Publisher: Canterbury Classics; Lea edition (November 8, 2011)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1607102129

ISBN-13: 978-1607102120

Product Dimensions: 1.8 x 6.5 x 9.2 inches

Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (55 customer reviews)

Best Sellers Rank: #122,896 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #67 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Myths & Legends > Greek & Roman #136 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > Themes & Styles > Epic #1048 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Historical > Fantasy

This review is split into 2 sections, first a review of the translation itself and then a review of the Kindle edition.Translation:Homer's stories are great and in this translation extremely easy to read. They were originally written in dactyllic hexameter, a very difficult-to-read metric. Some translations (Chapman's and Pope's) attempt to maintain the rhythm and while they succeed in maintaining a rhythm, the convolutions necessary to make the story fit make them very difficult to follow.The Butler translation does away with all attempts at poetry and is written in prose. This makes the story very easy to follow. One glaring problem is that while the Iliad follows the original Greek (and hence the Greek names), the Odyssey suddenly changes and Zeus becomes Jove, Poseidon becomes Neptune and so on. This makes the story extremely difficult to follow as every character "changes name".Kindle edition:In terms of the Kindle conversion, this well done. This edition does not suffer from broken lines as other Kindle editions do.

With many books, translations are negligible, with two obvious exceptions, one is the Bible, and surprisingly the other is The Iliad. Each translation can give a different insight and feel to the story. Everyone will have a favorite. I have several.For example:"Rage--Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus’ son Achilles,Murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses,hurling down to the House of Death so many souls,great fighters’ souls. But made their bodies carrion,feasts for dogs and birds,and the will of Zeus was moving towards its end.Begin, Muse, when the two first broke and clashed,Agamemnon lord of men and brilliant Achilles."-Translated by Robert Fagles, 1990“Sing, O Goddess, the anger of Achilles, son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans. Many a brave soul did it send hurrying down to Hades, and many a heroes did it yield a prey to dogs and vultures for so were the counsels of Zeus fulfilled from the day on which the son of Atreus, king of men, and great Achilles first fell out with one another.”-Translated by Samuel Butler, 1888“Rage:Sing, Goddess, Achilles’ rage,Black and murderous, that cost the GreeksIncalculable pain pitched countless soulsOf heroes into Hades’ dark,And let their bodies rot as feastsFor dogs and birds, as Zeus’ will was done. Begin with the clash between Agamemnon—The Greek Warlord—and godlike Achilles.”-Translated by Stanley Lombardo, 1997“Anger be now your song, immortal one,Akhilleus’ anger, doomed and ruinous,that caused the Akhaians loss on bitter lossand crowded brave souls into the undergloom,leaving so many dead men—carrionfor dogs and birds; and the will of Zeus was done.Begin it when the two men first contendingbroke with one another—the Lord Marshal Agamémnon, Atreus’ son, and Prince Akhilleus.”-Translated by Translated by Robert Fitzgerald, 1963“Sing, goddess, the anger of Peleus’ son of Achilleus and its devastation, which puts pains thousandfold upon the Achains, hurled in the multitudes to the house of Hades strong souls of heroes, but gave their bodies to be the delicate feasting of dogs, of all birds, and the will of Zeus was accomplished since that time when first there stood the division of conflict Atrecus’ son the lord of men and brilliant Achilleus.”–Translated by Richmond Lattimore, 1951“Sing, goddess, of Peleus’ son Achilles’ anger, ruinous, that caused the Greeks untold ordeals, consigned to Hades countless valiant souls, heroes, and left their bodies prey for dogs or feast for vultures. Zeus’s will was done from when those two first quarreled and split apart, the king, Agamemnon, and matchless Achilles.”-Translated by Herbert Jordan, 2008“An angry man-there is my story: the bitter rancor of Achillês, prince of the house of Peleus, which brought a thousand troubles upon the Achaian host. Many a strong soul it sent down to Hadês, and left the heroes themselves a prey to the dogs and carrion birds, while the will of God moved on to fulfillment.”-Translated and transliterated by W.H.D. Rouse, 1950“Achilles’ wrath, to Greece the direful springOf woes unnumber’d, heavenly goddess, sing!That wrath which hurl’d to Pluto’s gloomy reignThe souls of mighty chiefs untimely slain;Whose limbs unburied on the naked shore,Devouring dogs and hungry vultures tore.Since great Achilles and Atrides strove,Such was the sovereign doom,and such the will of Jove!”-Translated by Alexander Pope, 1720“Achilles sing, O Goddess! Peleus’ son;His wrath pernicious, who ten thousand woesCaused to Achaia’s host, sent many a soulIllustrious into Ades premature,And Heroes gave (so stood the will of Jove)To dogs and to all ravening fowls a prey,When fierce dispute had separated onceThe noble Chief Achilles from the sonOf Atreus, Agamemnon, King of men.”-Translated by William Cowper, London 1791“Achilles’ baneful wrath – resound, O goddess – that impos’dInfinite sorrow on the Greeks, and the brave souls loos’dFrom beasts heroic; sent them far, to that invisible cave*That no light comforts; and their limbs to dogs and vultures gave:To all which Jove’s will give effect; from whom the first strife begunBetwixt Atrides, king of men, and Thetis’ godlike son*”-Translated by George Chapman, 1616“The Rage of Achilles—sing it now, goddess, sing through methe deadly rage that caused the Achaeans such griefand hurled down to Hades the souls of so many fighters,leaving their naked flesh to be eaten by dogsand carrion birds, as the will of Zeus was accomplished.Begin at the time when bitter words first dividedthat king of men, Agamemnon, and godlike Achilles.”-Translated by Stephen Mitchell“Sing now, goddess, the wrath of Achilles the scion of Peleus,ruinous rage which brought the Achaians uncounted afflictions;many of the powerful souls it sent to the dwelling of Hades,those of the heroes, and spoil for the dogs it made it their bodies,plunder for the birds, and the purpose of Zeus was accomplished__”-Translated by Rodney Merrill“Sing, goddess, the anger of Achilles, Peleus’ son,the accused anger which brought the Achaeans countlessagonies and hurled many mighty shades of heroes into Hades,causing them to become the prey of dogsand all kinds of birds; and the plan of Zeus was fulfilled.”-Translated by Anthony VerityAntony does not attempt to be poetic. The line numbers are close to the original.“Of Peleus’ son, Achilles, sing, O Muse,The vengeance, deep and deadly; whence to GreeceUnnumbered ills arose; which many a soulOf mighty warriors to the viewless shadesUltimately sent; they on the battle plainUnburied lay, to rav’ning dogs,And carrion birds; but had Jove decreed,”-Translated by Edward Smith-Stanly 1862“Sing, Goddess of the rage of Achilles, son of Peleus-that murderous anger witch condemned Achaeansto countless agonies and threw many warrior soulsdeep into Hades, leaving their dead bodiescarrion food for dogs and birds-all in the fulfillment of the will of Zeus”- Translated by Professor Ian Johnston, British Columbia 2006“The rage, sing O goddess, of Achilles, son of Peleus,The destructive anger that brought ten-thousand pains to theAchaeans and sent many brave souls of fighting men to the houseof Hades and made their bodies a feast for dogsand all kinds of birds. For such was the will of Zeus.”- Translated by Barry B. Powell“Sing, goddess, the wrath of Achilles Peleus' son, the ruinous wrath that brought on the Achaians woes innumerable, and hurled down into Hades many strong souls of heroes, and gave their bodies to be a prey to dogs and all winged fowls; and so the counsel of Zeus wrought out its accomplishment from the day when first strife parted Atreides king of men and noble Achilles.”- Translated by Andrew Lang, M.A., Walter Leaf, Litt.D., And Ernest Myers, M.A.Books I. - IX. . . . . W. Leaf. " X. - XVI. . . . . A. Lang. " XVII. - XXIV. . . . . E. Myers.Another translation is by Ennis Samuel Rees, Jr. (March 17, 1925 – March 24, 2009) Greek Latin ——- ——- Zeus. Jupiter. Hera. Juno. (Pallas) Athene. Minerva. Aphrodite. Venus. Poseidon. Neptune. Ares. Mars. Hephaestus. Vulcan.You will find that some translations are easier to read but others are easier to listen to on recordings, lectures, Kindle, and the like. If you do not see information on specific translators, it is still worth the speculation and purchase. Right after the translation readability and understanding, do not overlook the introduction which gives an inset to what you are about to read.The Stephen Mitchell translation goes though each of the major characters so well that you think you know them before you starts reading. Other introductions explain the struggle between different types of power. Rodney Merrill’s 28 page introduction focuses on singing.The Oxford University Press Barry B. Powell has an extensive introduction with real “MAPS”. Also there is information of the finder Schliemann. We even get annotation on the meaning being conveyed.Our story takes place in the ninth year of the ongoing war. We get some introduction to the first nine years but they are just a background to this tale of pride, sorrow and revenge. The story will also end abruptly before the end of the war.We have the wide conflict between the Trojans and Achaeans over a matter of pride; the gods get to take sides and many times direct spears and shields.Although the more focused conflict is the power struggle between two different types of power. That of Achilles, son of Peleus and the greatest individual warrior and that of Agamemnon, lord of men, whose power comes form position.We are treated to a blow by blow inside story as to what each is thinking and an unvarnished description of the perils of war and the search for Arête (to be more like Aries, God of War.)Troy - The Director's Cut [Blu-ray]

This book is the first epic poem ever written, and it still ranks among the best. Reading this book is fundamental to understanding the rest of Greco-Roman literature, as it is referred to constantly by the great Greek and Roman authors. The story itself is very good, telling of the Greek beseigment of Troy, attempting to take back Menelos' beautiful wife Helen, who was stolen by a Trojan prince. The great heroes of Greece (Ajax, Agamemnon, Diomed, Achilles) battle Hector, defender of Troy, and his army. The gods on Mount Olympus are divided, some taking the side of the Greeks and some the side of the Trojans. The gods frequently shift the balance of the war, and the deterministic worldview of the Greeks is easily seen. At one point Agamemnon, king of the Greeks, says that he only did things because the gods had subconsciously forced him to. At another point Homer mentions that the Greeks' wall fell because "It had been built without the concent of the immortals, and therefore it did not last."At any rate, it is a very insightful glimse into the mindset of the ancient Greeks, and is very insteresting. I would highly recommend reading this book. I do have one complaint, though. For some reason all of the gods' names are Roman instead of Greek. For example, Zeus is always changed to Jove. I fail to see why this is necessary, unless they were leading you into a reading of the Aenied. If this is the case, Butler should have explained it. Other than that, however, this was an excellent translation.Overall grade: A

This is a wonderfully rich and poetic translation of Homer's two epics. It would be nice to have the Greek along with the English as was done with Latin and English in The Aeneid, The Eclogues, and the Georgics in English and Latin (Unexpurgated Edition) (Halcyon Classics). However, the lack of the alternating language versions does make it easier to navigate. So, overall, this is an ideal way to have these classics handy for enjoyment anytime.

The tome itself is exceptional in its aesthetics. The contents are the sublime Samuel Butler interpretation of the Greek epics that are among the foundations of Western Civilization. This is among the few books that every personal collection should include.

If homer had written this book centuries later no one would have bought it or read it. thank God he did or we would have never known what an epic looked like. A modern editor would have cut it down to shreds when he realized that three pages were took to malign someones character.

I really enjoyed this translation. It was difficult reading and you had to pay attention. It was great to read the actual stories that I had heard all my life. It was easier to follow in the prose format than trying to read it as a poem. It was worth reading if you have a real interest in the stories.

Iliad and Odyssey Homer Box Set: Iliad & Odyssey Iliad & Odyssey Adventures in Odyssey Advent Activity Calendar: Countdown to Christmas (Adventures in Odyssey Misc) James Houston's Treasury of Inuit Legends (Odyssey Classics (Odyssey Classics)) Discovering Odyssey (Adventures in Odyssey Classics #2) The Iliad Iliad (Hackett Classics) The Iliad (A Penguin Classics Hardcover) The Iliad: The Fitzgerald Translation The Iliad: The Story of Achilles The Essential Iliad The Wildest Summer Ever: And Other Grins, Grabbers and Great Getaways (Adventures in Odyssey) Heroes: And Other Secrets, Surprises and Sensational Stories (Adventures in Odyssey, Gold Audio Series No. 3) Homer's Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned about Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat Red Beans And Ricely Yours: Poems (New Odyssey Series) Overboard!: A True Bluewater Odyssey of Disaster and Survival Beyond the Outer Shores: The Untold Odyssey of Ed Ricketts, the Pioneering Ecologist Who Inspired John Steinbeck and Joseph Campbell Fly-Fishing the 41st: From Connecticut to Mongolia and Home Again: A Fisherman's Odyssey It Calls You Back: An Odyssey through Love, Addiction, Revolutions, and Healing