The Iliad
By Homer & Stephen Mitchell
- Release Date: 2011-10-11
- Genre: Poetry
Description
TOLSTOY CALLED THE ILIAD A miracle; Goethe said that it always thrust him into a state of astonishment. Homer’s story is thrilling, and his Greek is perhaps the most beautiful poetry ever sung or written. But until now, even the best English translations haven’t been able to re-create the energy and simplicity, the speed, grace, and pulsing rhythm of the original.
In Stephen Mitchell’s Iliad, the epic story resounds again across 2,700 years, as if the lifeblood of its heroes Achilles and Patroclus, Hector and Priam flows in every word. And we are there with them, amid the horror and ecstasy of war, carried along by a poetry that lifts even the most devastating human events into the realm of the beautiful.
Mitchell’s Iliad is the first translation based on the work of the preeminent Homeric scholar Martin L. West, whose edition of the original Greek identifies many passages that were added after the Iliad was first written down, to the detriment of the music and the story. Omitting these hundreds of interpolated lines restores a dramatically sharper, leaner text. In addition, Mitchell’s illuminating introduction opens the epic still further to our understanding and appreciation.
Now, thanks to Stephen Mitchell’s scholarship and the power of his language, the Iliad’s ancient story comes to moving, vivid new life.
Reviews
The Iliad
1By Andrew PurcellWhat gives here? This came in the PDF format. I was expecting a great translation but this is very difficult to read. One star until it gets fixed.Unacceptable Format
1By Nos GreeneYou cannot reformat, highlight or annotate on this book. For a classic like the Iliad this makes no sense.cant take notes or highlight text
1By Seanus70I am absolutely in love with Stephen Mitchell’s brilliant translation. I am the type to highlight and take notes on every book I read. When I highlight text in this book – either to write a note or to add a highlight – I am unable to do so. When I highlight text it gives me the option to search and to use the dictionary, but not to add a highlight OR to add a note. So annoying. I do not have this problem with ANY of my other iBooks. I feel like I have wasted my money. Seriously, I should have just purchased the hardback edition.Poor Formatting ruins this
2By Hal FriederichsThe formatting on this book is terrible. Every page has to be resized while reading it. No option is given to change font style or size as with other iBooks. The book itself is excellent, but I would avoid purchasing it until they improve the formatting.
