I’ve read The Iliad and The Odyssey four times. But after reading Adam Nicholson’s brilliant Why Homer Matters I want to drop everything and reread Homer’s works again. Nicholson writes passionately about what Homer means to him. Some of this book is a tour of the various translations of Homer. Worked into Nicholson’s chapters is a history of how Homer’s works were discovered and how we ended up with them. Finally, Nicholson argues that true story-telling begins with The Iliad and The Odyssey. Have you read Homer? What do think of his masterpieces? GRADE: A
As a child I read the tales of Troy and the journeys of Ulysses. A few years ago I read THE ILLIAD and found parallels with every war since–and how they are sold to us by the Powers That Be.
Dan, I learn something new about War every time I read THE ILIAD.
Yes, I’ve read both (preference for The Odyssey). I have a two-volume set translated (and with introduction) by Richmond Lattimore.
Deb, I like the Lattimore translation, too. And, like you, I prefer THE ODYSSEY to THE ILIAD.
Read them a long time ago, and to be honest I’m not interested in repeating the experience.
Jeff, I just acquired a copy of Alexander Pope’s translation of THE ILIAD. It’s been called the best translation ever.
I spent many happy hours talking about these two epics with students who were somewhat less enthusiastic about them than I was. Great stuff.
Bill, I’ve enjoyed reading Homer over the years. But WHY HOMER MATTERS ignited a need to read THE ILIAD and THE ODYSSEY again.
Phil will love this book. Thanks!
Patti, I loved WHY HOMER MATTERS. Adam Nicholson really wrote a love letter to Homer with this book!
As a classics minor back in college, this sounds wonderful.
I’ll watch for it.
I stil have, in a box somewhere, the Penguin Classics paperbacks of The Iliad and The Odyssey I read for a class (was it high school?). I found it slow going then and probably would again, but I’m not particularly interested in fining out.
Beth, you’ll love WHY HOMER MATTERS! And, if you’re like me, you’ll want to drop everything and reread THE ILIAD and THE ODYSSEY.
Rick, I plan to reread THE ILIAD and THE ODYSSEY. Reading WHY HOMER MATTERS has fired me up!
Meh. If you want to learn about war, join the Army.
Bob, you always cut to the chase!