Gilgameshs Snake and Other Poems (Paperback)

Ghareeb Iskander

ISBN 10: 0815610718 / ISBN 13: 9780815610717

Published by Syracuse University Press, New York, 2016

About this Item

Paperback. The Epic of Gilgamesh is perhaps the greatest surviving work of early Mesopotamian literature. According to legend, Gilgamesh built the city walls of Uruk, modern-day Iraq, to protect his people from external threats. Although the epic records events from more than four thousand years ago, those events echo many of the social and cultural concerns of Iraq today. In this luminous bilingual collection of poems, Ghareeb Iskander offers a personal response to the epic. Iskanders modern-day Gilgamesh is a nameless Iraqi citizen who witnessed the fall of the dictatorship, who exists in a constant state of threat, and who dreams, not about eternity, but simply about life. While Gilgamesh was searching for the elixir of life, Iskanders hero is searching for consolation. In this luminous bilingual collection of poems, Ghareeb Iskander offers a personal response to the The Epic of Gilgamesh. Iskanders modern-day Gilgamesh is a nameless Iraqi citizen who witnessed the fall of the dictatorship, who exists in a constant state of threat, and who dreams, not about eternity, but simply about life. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9780815610717

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Gilgameshs Snake and Other Poems (Paperback)
• Publisher: Syracuse University Press, New York
• Publication Date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0815610718
• ISBN 13: 9780815610717
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

<p>The<i> Epic of Gilgamesh</i> is perhaps the greatest surviving work of early Mesopotamian literature. According to legend, Gilgamesh built the city walls of Uruk, modern-day Iraq, to protect his people from external threats. Although the epic records events from more than four thousand years ago, those events echo many of the social and cultural concerns of Iraq today.<br>In this luminous bilingual collection of poems, Ghareeb Iskander offers a personal response to the epic. Iskander’s modern-day Gilgamesh is a nameless Iraqi citizen who witnessed the fall of the dictatorship, who exists in a constant state of threat, and who dreams, not about eternity, but simply about life. While Gilgamesh was searching for the elixir of life, Iskander’s hero is searching for consolation.</p>

About the Author

<b>Ghareeb Iskander</b> is an Iraqi poet living in London. He has published numerous collections of poems including, <i>A Chariot of Illusion</i>. His critical work includes <i>Semiotic Trends in the Critique of Arab Poetry. </i> <b>John Glenday</b> is an award-winning Scottish poet and translator. He is the author of several poetry collections including, <i>Grain and Undark</i>.