The Iliad

A new modern edition of the ancient Greek epic poem about the fall of Troy provides an alternative to more formal translations for first-time or general readers, offering a fast-moving and direct focus on the actual events and action of the story.

Reck, poet, translator, and biographer of Ezra Pound, offers a new translation of The Iliad that takes its place among those of Robert Fagles, Richard Lattimore, and Robert Fitzgerald. Following Pound's dictum to "make it new," Reck aims for modern diction and syntax, avoiding the anachronizing of Fitzgerald. At the same time, while not as literal as Fagles or Lattimore, he tries to achieve the vigor and tempo of the original by using a ten-syllable line, aiming for the effects of oral performance. The edition includes a useful introductory essay, maps, and a glossary of names and places. While Fagles or Lattimore remain the translation of choice for scholars without a knowledge of Greek, Reck's is a fluent and readable version for both students and general readers. Its larger format also aids legibility. Highly recommended.
T.L. Cooksey, Armstrong State Coll., Savannah, Ga.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.