Iliad (Hackett Classics)

A lot of things that were required reading in college should not have been; that is not the case for Homer's Illiad. There is a good reason why it's called a classic. Sure, it's a little long and the catalogues get a bit tedious. But I was totally blown away by how totally modern this story remains. The battle scenes are as bloody as anything about modern warefare we see on the nighly news. (The book cover has a photograph taken of World War II soldiers landing at Normandy entitled "Into the Jaws of Death.) And while reading this, I opened up an issue of USA Today and see that Brad Pitt will be starring in a movie based on this epic.The Iliad does have so much universal appeal. For example, the scene where Hector's son is frightened by his father's helmet and cries as Hector attempts to say goodbye before going into battle. Or when King Priam comes to plead with Achilles for the body of Hector and Achilles suggests that he eat in order to assuage his grief for his beloved fallen son. How many times have we all taken food to our bereaved friends and family. Sometimes it's all we know to do.If the purists are upset about this translation, I am not. Parts of this work read like a modern novel. In addition to an occasional four letter word, we see phrases like "get the hell out," "put me out of commission," "tough customer," and "you're nothing but trash," to name a few. There are beautifully constructed phrases as well: in one of the many battle scenes "death enfolded them" and Priam describes himself as being on the "threshold of old age."Sheila Murnaghan has written a long, interesting introduction to the work. There is also a catalogue of "Combat Deaths," and who killed whom if you are keeping up with that sort of thing, as well as a list of the speeches and an index of the major Greeks, Trojans and, of course, Zeus and his crowd.A thoroughly enjoyable reread!

Having attempted many times over the years to read Homer's "Iliad," but being frustrated at every turn, I was thrilled to come across Stanley Lombardo's brilliant translation. Previously, I had turned to the modern classics by Lattimore and Fitzgerald. And as well done and powerful as they were, I somehow did not find them as smooth-flowing and readable as I could have wished.Lombardo has changed all that. His "Iliad" combines the best of modern vernacular with the power of classical eloquence. When the men are in battle, skulls get crushed and entrails ruptured with graphic and immediate violence. Yet when the heroes address one another or the gods converse, the language soars to the appropriate heights of formality.I was drawn in from the first line, and it has not let me go. I am now reading Book 19, and Achilles has just gotten his new armor from Hephaestus via his mother, Thetis. He is about to join the battle at last, and the suspense is every bit as thrilling as it is supposed to be. In fact, I often find myself so pulled into the story and the poetry that I begin to read it aloud (albeit very quietly) and my wife has to remind me that I'm speaking. Nonetheless, do yourself a favor and find a quiet place where you can be alone and read some of these immortal lines aloud. The power and sweep of the dialogue and the narrative will amaze you. In fact, Lombardo himself worked and reworked this translation, in part, as a performance piece, and he has himself performed portions of it many times.Now, I am no scholar. I do not read Greek. I cannot tell you if this translation hews to the original with extreme accuracy. But I can tell you this: It will get you to READ it. If you have always wanted to read this great classic but, like me, have shied away because it required too much effort, then get this translation immediately. Leave the scholarship to the scholars. This is just one hell of a great story.Next up, Lombardo's translation of "The Odyssey." I can't wait.

I really enjoyed this translation. The word choice doesn't detract from this excellent delve into the world of heores and honor, but does make the messages and themes much easier to digest as the book reads more like a modern story plus heavy violence.A note in general on this book:I think this is a great read academically to try and puzzle out how these themes may have translated to cultural values of some age of greek society (read M. Finley's World of Odysseus and The Odyssey at the same time would be my recommendation).Other readers may simply enjoy the story, although a word of warning, I feel like female readers may have a hard time getting past their lack of representstion in this book. Any representation that does exist is very superficial and roles for both genders are clearly carved out with power and honor for the house clearly being the males role. It's very focused on ancient greek male values and often relationships and interations bothered me. Given it's less personal for me as I am male, I might have had a harder time getting threw this if i was a member of the segment that is repressed constantly in the story. I overcame this because 1) it's a story 2) it seems to me many characters are trapped by their roles and the book plays with the illusion of choice. We as modern readers simply view the men in the story as having a choice and the women having none, but if both men and women have no choice it's more tolerable, even though the power dynamic is still so one sided.Reading this book showed me an ancient perspective I had never before percieved or attempted to know. After reading this and The Odyssey, I am convienced I could spend the rest of my life trying to understand the ancient greeks and still have questions on my death bed. I am not saying this book changed me and now I am going to live my life like a Greek hero, but understanding an ancient perspective can perhaps help us shape a future we like to pretend has fully departed from our ancient roots.

It’s a good, solid translation that tells the story, maybe with a bit less poetry in it’s verse than I’d hoped, it’s strong and workmanlike, and I’m glad I read this version.

modern vocabulary (end 20th century), good imagery, nice notes; good version to start with, good version to add if you're a homer buff

Stanley Lombardo's translation of the Iliad, one of the most significant works in the western canon, is to my mind the most accessible translation I've seen. A number of years ago I tried to read a different translation and gave up after a couple of chapters thinking life was to short. However Lombardo's translation is fresh and full of energy and engages you in the story. Some will no doubt find the colloquial elements and modern English not to their tastes prefering their classics to have a more archaic feel. However for the reader new to the Iliad and for the casual reader after an engaging, readable translation this is a great place to start.There is no such thing, in my opinion, as a perfect translation. Something will always be lost. As such I would recommened those with a strong intererset in the Iliad to consult a number of translations. The most readily available are probably the Lattimore, Fagles, Fitzgerald and Rieu translations (though there are many more).Lombardo, who is Professor of Classics at the University of Kansas, has also produced translations of The Odyssey and The Aeneid (Links are to Kindle editions. Paperback editions are also available.)

Rather than reviewing Homer, which I have neither the time nor vocabulary for, my review is for the audio book. Nicely presented, good quality box set and book of words, and 12 discs. The content seems to be, to me as a Brit, an americanisation of the text. This is both an interesting slant, and often amusing, giving the work a modern interpretation. Stanley Lombardo does not read the text, he acts it enthusiastically, making for a really dramatic listen. Susan whatserface, who provides the synopses, comes across as stiff in comparison, but the content and delivery is both clear and concise. Because there are two voices, and because of Lombardo's acting, the volume fluctuates, so if you want this for bedtime lulls, you'll be kept up all night wondering what will become of big Ajax. If you want a shortcut into the work itself, you'll be hard pressed to find such an accessible presentation.

Make no mistake, there are absolutely no issues with this edition. However I would say it is more appealing for scholars rather than children. Excellent translation, excellent paperback print, small print, black-and-white not particularly children-friendly illustrations. As an adult I enjoy it greatly, I would read it aloud, however I doubt any child would read it by himself.

This is a relatively recent translation of The Iliad into modern English. As such, it is easier to read than many of the older translations.