joshuacrebo 's review for:

The Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer

5.0

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In this edition, I have only read The Odyssey so far. It’s a work full of beauty and narrative power, especially when aided by George Chapman’s bold heroic couplets. Chapman is at his best when translating the detailed descriptions Homer always gives his readers; whether those descriptions are of battle scenes, banquets, characters or treasures, Chapman renders them skillfully and vividly. On the other hand, his verse can at times become turgid and cramped when attempting to translate the more complex scenes of dialogue between characters. Still, I was able to understand most of the time, and this story engaged me from beginning to end.