Poetry
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The Iliad
The great war epic of Western literature, translated by acclaimed classicist Robert Fagles, and featured in the Netflix series The OA
A Penguin Classic
Dating to the ninth century B.C., Homer's timeless poem still vividly conveys the horror and heroism of men and gods wrestling with towering emotions and battling amidst devastation and destruction, as it moves inexorably to the wrenching, tragic conclusion of the Trojan War. Renowned classicist Bernard Knox observes in his superb introduction that although the violence of the Iliad is grim and relentless, it coexists with both images of civilized life and a poignant yearning for peace.
Combining the skills of a poet and scholar, Robert Fagles, winner of the PEN/Ralph Manheim Medal for Translation and a 1996 Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, brings the energy of contemporary language to this enduring heroic epic. He maintains the drive and metric music of Homer's poetry, and evokes the impact and nuance of the Iliad's mesmerizing repeated phrases in what Peter Levi calls "an astonishing performance."
This Penguin Classics Deluxe edition also features French flaps and deckle-edged paper.
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
9780140275360
A Penguin Classic
Dating to the ninth century B.C., Homer's timeless poem still vividly conveys the horror and heroism of men and gods wrestling with towering emotions and battling amidst devastation and destruction, as it moves inexorably to the wrenching, tragic conclusion of the Trojan War. Renowned classicist Bernard Knox observes in his superb introduction that although the violence of the Iliad is grim and relentless, it coexists with both images of civilized life and a poignant yearning for peace.
Combining the skills of a poet and scholar, Robert Fagles, winner of the PEN/Ralph Manheim Medal for Translation and a 1996 Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, brings the energy of contemporary language to this enduring heroic epic. He maintains the drive and metric music of Homer's poetry, and evokes the impact and nuance of the Iliad's mesmerizing repeated phrases in what Peter Levi calls "an astonishing performance."
This Penguin Classics Deluxe edition also features French flaps and deckle-edged paper.
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
9780140275360
Editorial Reviews
Fitzgerald has solved virtually every problem that has plagued translators of Homer. The narrative runs, the dialogue speaks, the military action is clear, and the repetitive epithets become useful text rather than exotic relics. "Atlantic Monthly "
Fitzgerald s swift rhythms, bright images, and superb English make Homer live as never before This is for every reader in our time and possibly for all time. "Library Journal "
[Fitzgerald s "Odyssey" and "Iliad"] open up once more the unique greatness of Homer s art at the level above the formula; yet at the same time they do not neglect the brilliant texture of Homeric verse at the level of the line and the phrase. "The Yale Review
"
What an age can read in Homer, what its translators can manage to say in his presence, is one gauge of its morale, one index to its system of exultations and reticences. The supple, the iridescent, the ironic, these modes are among our strengths, and among Mr. Fitzgerald s. "National Review"
With an Introduction by Gregory Nagy"
"Fitzgerald has solved virtually every problem that has plagued translators of Homer. The narrative runs, the dialogue speaks, the military action is clear, and the repetitive epithets become useful text rather than exotic relics." -"Atlantic Monthly "
"Fitzgerald's swift rhythms, bright images, and superb English make Homer live as never before...This is for every reader in our time and possibly for all time."-"Library Journal "
"[Fitzgerald's "Odyssey" and "Iliad"] open up once more the unique greatness of Homer's art at the level above the formula; yet at the same time they do not neglect the brilliant texture of Homeric verse at the level of the line and the phrase." -"The Yale Review
"
"What an age can read in Homer, what its translators can manage to say in his presence, is one gauge of its morale, one index to its system of exultations and reticences. The supple, the iridescent, the ironic, these modes are among our strengths, and among Mr. Fitzgerald's." -"National Review"
With an Introduction by Gregory Nagy
Fitzgerald s swift rhythms, bright images, and superb English make Homer live as never before This is for every reader in our time and possibly for all time. "Library Journal "
[Fitzgerald s "Odyssey" and "Iliad"] open up once more the unique greatness of Homer s art at the level above the formula; yet at the same time they do not neglect the brilliant texture of Homeric verse at the level of the line and the phrase. "The Yale Review
"
What an age can read in Homer, what its translators can manage to say in his presence, is one gauge of its morale, one index to its system of exultations and reticences. The supple, the iridescent, the ironic, these modes are among our strengths, and among Mr. Fitzgerald s. "National Review"
With an Introduction by Gregory Nagy"
"Fitzgerald has solved virtually every problem that has plagued translators of Homer. The narrative runs, the dialogue speaks, the military action is clear, and the repetitive epithets become useful text rather than exotic relics." -"Atlantic Monthly "
"Fitzgerald's swift rhythms, bright images, and superb English make Homer live as never before...This is for every reader in our time and possibly for all time."-"Library Journal "
"[Fitzgerald's "Odyssey" and "Iliad"] open up once more the unique greatness of Homer's art at the level above the formula; yet at the same time they do not neglect the brilliant texture of Homeric verse at the level of the line and the phrase." -"The Yale Review
"
"What an age can read in Homer, what its translators can manage to say in his presence, is one gauge of its morale, one index to its system of exultations and reticences. The supple, the iridescent, the ironic, these modes are among our strengths, and among Mr. Fitzgerald's." -"National Review"
With an Introduction by Gregory Nagy
Readers Top Reviews
Robmarie nicholsonJo
Beautiful book, lovely translation. I bought this when it first can out decades ago and I’m really happy it feels the same. Isn’t that enough advice already?
GreysonMaxwell Justu
The quality of the contents of this book are good, but the quality of its bindings leave wanting for something better. My first complaint is that this book looks used. There was an option to buy a used version of this book for less money. I wanted an unused book, but it's clear I received a used book for the following reasons: There's an injury to the book's spine, there are torn pages, and there are quite a few pages warped near the beginning. Aside from that, I don't like the way the pages fall. You can't easily flip through them because they're of varying lengths.
JB
Reading Homer is essential for any study of the great western works. I chose this version since it was recommended as "the best modern English translation" from The Young Heretics podcast. This is -the- translation to experience The Iliad if you too are working your way through the great works. It truly is the best war story ever told, and boy does Fagles tell it! The translation is written in free verse (9-14 syllables per line, usually), which flows marvelously well as the drama of the Trojan War reaches its climax. If you have only experienced the tale through the movies and television then you may be surprised by how vital the pantheon is to the story, the religious adherence of all involved, and the fact that the Iliad mostly covers one week of fighting. The story itself is about the rage of Achilles, so it naturally starts with Achilles becoming enraged and ends when his rage is soothed - and no, that doesn't happen with his death. In addition to the translation, this edition also contains a 60-page introduction/commentary by Bernard Knox. The commentary alone is worth the price of the book! It contextualizes how The Iliad (probably) came to be, who Homer may be, and how scholars study the work from a variety of perspectives. He then describes the main themes of the book and contrasts the character traits of the leading heroes. Feel free to skip this section to avoid spoilers (though bear in mind that the story spoils itself quite frequently, plus it's very likely you know most of the major plot points already), or if you want a bias-free experience. I found that it enhanced my understanding of the story rather than directing it, but I'll let you be the judge of that! Keep in mind that the Alexander Pope translation is still highly regarded as the best. It was translated in the early 18th century and is even written in iambic pentameter with rhyming couplets! However, the language of that translation is archaic, akin to reading the King James Bible. It also has not benefitted from the last 300 years of classical scholarship. If this doesn't bother you then it is certainly the version you should read. But if you prefer a (still beautiful) translation into modern English then you will not be disappointed with Fagles.
Julia Carr
As an English teacher, it was important to me to buy my daughter the same translation that I studied in college. I have looked at other translations, and they are just not the same. Unlike my college copy, this updated quality paperback has sturdy pages and cover, and lots of white space for note taking. It also has an extensive introduction that is very helpful (according to my daughter, who also loves the look and feel of the rough-edges pages). If you are buying this for yourself, it will be a treat. If you are buying for someone else, it is a nice gift.
Isaac H.
My first time reading this classic. Thrilling, engaging, enthralling story, couldn’t put it down, except to work and sleep and eat and use the lavatory. The story telling is fantastic but admittedly I’m not very well read. I will say I may be biased toward classical literature as opposed to the meaningless drivel which passes for literature these days, I mean who could compare the Iliad with Harry Potter or Twilight or whatever other ridiculousness is available. This and other classic works like The Odyssey or The Divine Comedy or the Aeneid are some of the origins of western thought and culture and should be read and appreciated. All of that being said, people who like to collect books would probably chew their tongues off if they saw the quality of this print. The binding is adequate, the cover is mediocre and the pages are not cut properly, with the pages themselves being of varying width with rough edges. The pages top and bottom are uniform though. I say who cares, the content is what matters to me, I put more stock in the enjoyment of the story than the disheveled appearance of the page edges. It’s a cheap print, so what. If I come across a collectible print of the Iliad which is under $100 I’d probably buy it just to look good on a shelf but that’s only after all my bills are paid and the wife & kids have had there full of ice cream and lollipops.
