The Iliad and The Odyssey: Illustrated Edition

Before reading this book I had no idea of the civilizations of these very early times I was surprised at the wealth of gold , silver, as well of their enormous herds and flocks of animals and the wars in which their riches, as well as their women, were often attained. I was also surprised at their customs for treating guests or visitors in their homes. The details of the battles and hardships were almost tedious but necessary to immerse the reader. I very much enjoyed this epic tale.

This is The Iliad and the Odyssey of Homer, retold by Alfred J. Church, illustrated by Eugene Karlin, with an afterword by Clifton Fadiman, The MacMillan Company, fourth printing, 1967. Sorry, no ISBN. I'm getting specific here because I love the physical presence of this book. I was looking for a version to read with my ten year old son, so the choice is colored by a specific need. The prose in this retelling is just right for us, now. It's just archaic enough to be a bit of a stretch and a good, strong flavor, and it suits the content of the tale. Here's a short sample: "And indeed, Apollo was rousing them. The cousin of King Rhesus awoke and, seeing the place of the horses empty, cried out, calling the king. So all the camp was roused. But Diomed and Ulysses mounted the horses and rode to the camp of the Greeks. Right glad were their comrades to see them and to hear the tale of what they had done." The physical book is a pleasure to hold and regard. Karlin provides twenty-one fine line drawings.

I usually do not note the cost of the books I review, but this Anthony Heald reading of both the Iliad and the Odyssey in the 1930's translation for Penguin Books by Rouse was a bargain at less than $20 (shipping included) for the 20-cd set. The box is sturdy and handsome, but the discs are on a spindle which makes changing discs while driving a little awkward. The performance was certainly adequate and professional, but just a bit rapid for me, especially in parts of the dialog, and especially when an accent was effected. Furthermore, a little more pausing in places would have helped me reconnect the times that my mind wandered. A picture or a thought or association triggered by something just said would occasionally lead me off the flow. I also experienced the narration as being at times a little monotonous - perhaps pace or tone could have been used more effectively, or perhaps this particular voice did not resonate with me as well as with other listeners. This is half the reason I did not give the item a full 5 stars. The other reason is the translation itself. Rouse's pre-WWII had some vocabulary choices that seemed a trifle anachronistic to me at times. "Antidiluvian" references the Genesis flood, a world apart from Homer; willy-nilly, and other terms evoke informal English which seemed a mite in-congruent with the context, and illustrates the problem in using informal language to translate a classic: informal language changes its meaning and associations more rapidly so that what was fresh and vivid in the 1930's is dated or obscure 80 years later. Rouse also gives some of the slaves, especially notable in the Odyssey, a working-class accent, Irish, or something, which evokes ethnic associations at odds with the setting. Evoking class differences can be done in a more subtle, and therefore a more effective way. The later (1960?) Penguin translation by E. V. Rieu was more successful in this regard. Both were popular prose translations of the epic poems which read for all the world like novels, and illustrate the fact that some of the earliest surviving literature is also the best.

No need to critique this epic - most of us read it at least once in High School and probably again in University. I have read it a few times and this version is great. The cover is horrible but the text is readable which is unusual for a "copyright free". This is an excellent resource if you dont think you will use it very often. If you want something a bit more collectible I would look elsewhere - there are a few beautiful renditions of these stories. I think the one (october release) of the Iliad looks great - http://www.amazon.ca/Illiad-Pauline-Francis/dp/1783220589/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400759602&sr=8-1&keywords=illiad+and It is also inexpensive. For the Odyssey check out http://www.amazon.ca/Penguin-Classics-Odyssey-Homer/dp/0141192445/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1400759780&sr=1-4&keywords=the+odyssey which is a little on the expensive side - but the actual cover and binding are impressive looking. The collection I am reviewing is probably the best bet for the "average person". You get both books in a readable package for around $12.. any other route you take you will likely pay close to $30 (though you will have nicer looking books).

I just finished Epic the Musical and out of curiosity, decided to read Homer's poem, which I've been attempting to read for over a decade. It's quite wonderful

Great book of storytelling, heroes, bravery, and revenge. The story of the war at Troy and Ulysses travel home. Must read

If you haven't read these books you cannot call yourself educated. Many of the movies and television shows that you enjoy so much have their roots in these classic tales. So do many of the books you read. War stories, love stories, science fiction, fantasy, and even serious mainstream books draw on these tales that were old before even the Bible was written. If you read them years ago, it's time to read them again and see how your perception of them has grown as you have grown.

This review is for the Kindle edition and not a review of the classic stories themselves (they are fabulous). I had no problem with The Iliad, the format was good and as easy to read as The Iliad can be. However, I was very disappointed when I got to The Odyssey because the translation went from the Greek names in the Iliad to the Roman names in the Odyssey. What a let down to get all the way through the Iliad, look forward to the next book, and to have the names changed on me! Despite what Shakespeare may have thought, names do matter. Guess its back to my tried and true paper copies.