The Iliad of Homer: The Wrath of Achilles - Softcover

The Iliad, the heroic Greek epic called by I. A. Richards "the most influential poem in the Western tradition," describes what happens toward the end of the Trojan War, when a quarrel between Agamemnon and the Greek hero Achilles sets in motion tragic events that bring the war to its conclusion. This edition of the Iliad, abridged and translated by the noted critic and translator I. A. Richards, has made this classic work of literature available to modern readers since 1958 in a remarkably readable version. Mr. Richards has cut many passages that are not essential to the storyline and has omitted books 2, 10, 13, and 17. Removing the stylized decoration that can hinder a nonspecialist reader, he makes the language of the poem clearly accessible, and his narrative condensation allows the action to stand out boldly.

A new modern translation of "The Iliad" that is fast-moving, direct, emphasizes the action of the story, and is especially helpful for those first encountering this classic work."The line-for-line rendering brings it very close to the original. The fast pace of the rhythm and the earthy energy of the vernacular manage to catch the excitement of the story itself. It comes through--relatively unfiltered--with a surprising impact."--Harry Levin, Harvard University