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adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
The Iliad is one of those books I’ve always felt I ought to read and have always intended to read, but ultimately found the thought too intimidating. Would it be a slog? Would it bore me? Would I just not get it? Fortunately, I stumbled upon this new translation, decided I’d give it a try… And thoroughly enjoyed it!
Not only is the translation itself wonderful to read, but the introduction and end notes are an invaluable resource, giving all the context required for a new reader to appreciate both the text itself and the choices made during translation. I’m now interested to read other translations and see how they differ, but I have a feeling this is the one I will be coming back to time and time again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Sexual assault
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Took a class on this wonderful classic since I knew that was the only thing that would motivate me to actually read/study/understand it. As an English major some decades back, and a 3 yr. Latin student, I'd been vaguely familiar with certain passages, but hadn't really spent any time with it since an adult.
What an incredibly arced story over time and place and the emotions and characters are so identifiable . I learned so much, but not a book to read solo! Definitely need somebody to help you along and discuss this book, but to think it was committed to memory, and transferred over many oral generations before being put into writing is quite remarkable. It's also remarkable that it's 500 pages and the translation makes such a difference. Originally a poem, but that's rather lost in the translation to English, but nonetheless a compelling story of honor and revenge and every emotion out there, jealousy, pride, a father's love, romance, and the ever easy-to hate handsome Paris. And of course Helen or Troy. The honorable Hector, and the aggressive warrior, Achilles. I do go on, but it is a heroic classic worth your time. Thousands of years old and considered one of the first books in Western literature. Thank you Marilyn Scott! Ann Arbor classicist.
What an incredibly arced story over time and place and the emotions and characters are so identifiable . I learned so much, but not a book to read solo! Definitely need somebody to help you along and discuss this book, but to think it was committed to memory, and transferred over many oral generations before being put into writing is quite remarkable. It's also remarkable that it's 500 pages and the translation makes such a difference. Originally a poem, but that's rather lost in the translation to English, but nonetheless a compelling story of honor and revenge and every emotion out there, jealousy, pride, a father's love, romance, and the ever easy-to hate handsome Paris. And of course Helen or Troy. The honorable Hector, and the aggressive warrior, Achilles. I do go on, but it is a heroic classic worth your time. Thousands of years old and considered one of the first books in Western literature. Thank you Marilyn Scott! Ann Arbor classicist.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.25☆
No esperé que me fuera a gustar tanto como lo hizo.
Estoy fuera de práctica con los clásicas así que fue una lectura que me costó un poco más, pero todo el rato me tuvo intrigada.
Also, no sé si debería poner este libro bajo la etiqueta de libros lgbt o no, digo, uno quiere defender la heterosexualidad de Aquiles, pero él no se ayuda.
No esperé que me fuera a gustar tanto como lo hizo.
Estoy fuera de práctica con los clásicas así que fue una lectura que me costó un poco más, pero todo el rato me tuvo intrigada.
Also, no sé si debería poner este libro bajo la etiqueta de libros lgbt o no, digo, uno quiere defender la heterosexualidad de Aquiles, pero él no se ayuda.
Greek mythology and the epic poems have never been my cup of tea, but Emily Wilson's accessible translation is a revelation that just might make me a fan.
First class read of 2025! I actually really enjoyed reading this, especially towards the end. I have some issues with the translation (especially in the dialogue it can get really clunky) & without having read the unabridged version I don't know how well they picked and chose which parts to keep in, though sometimes the summaries seemed to describe rather important events which seemed odd to me. Overall though I'm very happy I had to read this cause it was super fascinating.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
10/10 recommend as an audio book
Unrivaled, unparalleled and unsurpassed. I've lost count of how many times I've read this in both English and Ancient Greek.
Gods, gore & grief. Old enough to read it, now Emily Wilson’s translated it.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced