[.ca] Iliad (ISBN 0670835102)

From Amazon.com:
This groundbreaking English version by Robert Fagles is the most important recent translation of Homer's great epic poem. The verse translation has been hailed by scholars as the new standard, providing an Iliad that delights modern sensibility and aesthetic without sacrificing the grandeur and particular genius of Homer's own style and language. The Iliad is one of the two great epics of Homer, and is typically described as one of the greatest war stories of all time, but to say the Iliad is a war story does not begin to describe the emotional sweep of its action and characters: Achilles, Helen, Hector, and other heroes of Greek myth and history in the tenth and final year of the Greek siege of Troy.

The Best Illiad Translation There Is!:
Robert Fagles translation of the Illiad is supurb! It's very easy to read and yet still retains its essence which has captivated readers for 2800 years!! I would highly recommend The Illiad to everyone, the story is a timeless one and one can relate to it as much now in the year 2006 as the people did back in 1200-800BC, before it was even written down, and just passed down generation to generation orally. This translation is definitly the best english translation there is to enjoy this timeless classic. Do yourself a favour and read one of the most brillant stories ever written.

Something in excess.....:
Admittedly, the Fagles translation of The Iliad is not the version I am reviewing. Mine was a prose translation, by Samuel Butler, of 'The Way of All Flesh' fame.....and the words inscribed in the Temple of Apollo, 'Nothing in Excess' came to mind as I read, as there is something in excess, and not a good something... Having read the Odyssey in prose form, translated by E.V. Rieu, I had high hopes for what is described as the 'greatest war story ever told'.... With a more than impressive cast of characters to work with; Achilles, Paris, Hector, Helen of Troy, etc, etc, etc,....this story (and perhaps it is the translation) is really lacking when compared to The Odyssey in story content. Much of the book is used to name soldier after soldier who dies, along with his patronimic lineage...and how he was killed; be it sword, spear, rock, etc. The story that inspires this book, the love of Paris and his affair with Helen, the 'face that launched a thousand ships' is a story ripe with potential...for both a good war story, a good love story, and a fascinating look at Ancient Greek war strategy, and the taking and sacking of a powerful city like Troy. In this incarnation, it doesn't live up to that potential, which was greatly disappointing. The story read, to me, as a Classical equivalent to the United States' Vietnam War Memorial, listing name after name of slain soldiers and M.I.A.'s....so much so that the 'main characters' of the story are grievously overlooked, and it is near impossible to keep track of which side is winning, with name after name hurled at you. The saving grace, for me, of this book is really the last several chapters...where the grief of Achilles for his slain lover, Patroclus, is chronicled. While never blatant in its descriptiveness, the love, admiration, and longing that Achilles held for Patroclus is MORE than evident here, even if Brad Pitt couldn't muster the bravery to play it on screen in his ho-hum turn as Achilles. Also entertaining is the impish interference of the Gods from time to time to favor one side or another...which was also 'scrubbed' from the film version, as it, according to Pitt, would not 'play well' with an audience. I guess after reading the Odyssey, I anticipated a superior story here, and was disappointed with what I found. Though the subject matter is fascinating...and the recent Hollywood bastardization is appallingly NON-authentic, having read the story, I walked away from this book feeling let down.

worthless:
this book leads to two things: a waste of time a waste of money

The ground is dark with blood:
With many books, translations are negligible, with two obvious exceptions, one is the Bible, and surprisingly the other is The Iliad. 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 "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 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 warier and that of Agamemnon, lord of men, who's 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.

Lived up to expectations:
Whether Homer really existed as sole poet or whether the story of Troy is an oral tale passed down through generations before anyone wrote it down (and really, the mystery behind the speculation is part of the appeal), no one who has read it front to back can deny its dark, tragic power. Everyone knows the gist of the story, but its word for word delivery is the driving force behind it. Although I can't read Greek to confirm it, my notion is that Robert Fagles has skillfully translated to English the depth of human emotion and brutality laced in each line of verse. It was a fantastic read that transported me back to ancient Greece in much the same way that the course I took in Greek Mythology managed to. This is a classic that everyone can enjoy, even in spite of its length. It is completely enthralling and raises questions about human nature with far more tact than that drone of a movie "Troy" did. In fact, forget everything that film taught you, because the true tale is much more interesting.