Publisher Description

A spellbinding and enchanting translation of Homer's epic, told in colloquial prose. The Iliad is a story of war, of death, of violence and of the complexities of human nature. This excellent translation from Ancient-Greece expert W.H.D. Rouse is as lively, harrowing, suspenseful and moving as Homer's original. Written in colloquial prose, Rouse never omits the thrill of adventure and the tragedies and victories of war. This is a great first translation to read, and an important addition to the literary canon.

Author Biography

Seth L. Schein is Professor of Comparative Literature at the University of California, Davis. He works mainly on Homeric epic, Attic tragedy, and receptions of classical literature and culture. His books include The Mortal Hero- An Introduction to Homer's Iliad, Reading the Odyssey- Selected Interpretive Essays editor , and the translation of Sophokles- Philoktetes.

Review

"A great poem cannot be fully translated unless by a poet almost as great as its original author...W.H.D. Rouse...retells the story in fast, modern, colloquial prose. It is the first version I have ever seen which drives on as rapidly as the original and therefore it makes an excellent introduction to Homer. This is the translation to read first, if you have never read The Iliad."--The New York Times Book Review

Review Quote

"A great poem cannot be fully translated unless by a poet almost as great as its original author...W.H.D. Rouse...retells the story in fast, modern, colloquial prose. It is the first version I have ever seen which drives on as rapidly as the original and therefore it makes an excellent introduction to Homer. This is the translation to read first, if you have never read The Iliad ."-- The New York Times Book Review

Promotional "Headline"

THE WORLD'S GREATEST WAR NOVEL

Description for Sales People

Homer's classic epic of war, Gods and heroes. An accessible, lively and thrilling translation by W.H.D. Rouse. Will appeal to both students and general readers due to its price and the quality of the translation. W.H.D. Rouse is an expert in ancient Greece and headmaster of the Perse School in Cambridge.

Details