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Troy: The epic battle as told in Homer’s Iliad
HarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics. When Paris falls in love with legendary beauty Helen of Troy, the devastating effects of their affair on their families and fellow citizens are unimaginable. Battle lines are drawn, alliances are forged, and as the Greeks and Trojans march into battle, the resilience and humanity of all will be tested. In his epic story of divine ego, human frailty, and the ravages of war, Homer created an unforgettable cast of characters, whose moral dilemmas and heroic deeds will stay with readers long past the final pages of this book. Samuel Butler’s famous prose translation of Homer’s original brings the epic to an entirely new generation of readers.
- GenresHistory
356 pages, Paperback
Published September 18, 2018
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30 people want to read
About the author
Homer
4,713 books7,039 followersHomer (Greek: Όμηρος born c. 8th century BC) was a Greek poet who is credited as the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Homer is considered one of the most revered and influential authors in history.
Homer's Iliad centers on a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles during the last year of the Trojan War. The Odyssey chronicles the ten-year journey of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, back to his home after the fall of Troy. The poems are in Homeric Greek, also known as Epic Greek, a literary language which shows a mixture of features of the Ionic and Aeolic dialects from different centuries; the predominant influence is Eastern Ionic. Most researchers believe that the poems were originally transmitted orally. Despite being predominantly known for its tragic and serious themes, the Homeric poems also contain instances of comedy and laughter.
Homer's epic poems shaped aspects of ancient Greek culture and education, fostering ideals of heroism, glory, and honor. To Plato, Homer was simply the one who "has taught Greece" (τὴν Ἑλλάδα πεπαίδευκεν). In Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, Virgil refers to Homer as "Poet sovereign", king of all poets; in the preface to his translation of the Iliad, Alexander Pope acknowledges that Homer has always been considered the "greatest of poets". From antiquity to the present day, Homeric epics have inspired many famous works of literature, music, art, and film.
The question of by whom, when, where and under what circumstances the Iliad and Odyssey were composed continues to be debated. Scholars remain divided as to whether the two works are the product of a single author. It is thought that the poems were composed at some point around the late eighth or early seventh century BC. Many accounts of Homer's life circulated in classical antiquity; the most widespread account was that he was a blind bard from Ionia, a region of central coastal Anatolia in present-day Turkey. Modern scholars consider these accounts legendary.
French: Homère, Italian: Omero, Portuguese, Spanish: Homero.
Homer's Iliad centers on a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles during the last year of the Trojan War. The Odyssey chronicles the ten-year journey of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, back to his home after the fall of Troy. The poems are in Homeric Greek, also known as Epic Greek, a literary language which shows a mixture of features of the Ionic and Aeolic dialects from different centuries; the predominant influence is Eastern Ionic. Most researchers believe that the poems were originally transmitted orally. Despite being predominantly known for its tragic and serious themes, the Homeric poems also contain instances of comedy and laughter.
Homer's epic poems shaped aspects of ancient Greek culture and education, fostering ideals of heroism, glory, and honor. To Plato, Homer was simply the one who "has taught Greece" (τὴν Ἑλλάδα πεπαίδευκεν). In Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, Virgil refers to Homer as "Poet sovereign", king of all poets; in the preface to his translation of the Iliad, Alexander Pope acknowledges that Homer has always been considered the "greatest of poets". From antiquity to the present day, Homeric epics have inspired many famous works of literature, music, art, and film.
The question of by whom, when, where and under what circumstances the Iliad and Odyssey were composed continues to be debated. Scholars remain divided as to whether the two works are the product of a single author. It is thought that the poems were composed at some point around the late eighth or early seventh century BC. Many accounts of Homer's life circulated in classical antiquity; the most widespread account was that he was a blind bard from Ionia, a region of central coastal Anatolia in present-day Turkey. Modern scholars consider these accounts legendary.
French: Homère, Italian: Omero, Portuguese, Spanish: Homero.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 20, 2025
After a long time, I finally finished it. I believe this to be a great book. The pacing is just right. Can't believe that someone in the ancient times could write something this good. Even today this book is relevant especially if one decides to learn about Greek literature. I like all the characters, even the supposed to be unlikable one is good. Achilles compassion in the end even if it was demanded of him by a god is heartwarming and I can't wait to read the next book.
August 25, 2025
I love the iliad WHOLEHEARTEDLY, while samuel butler's translation is a famous translation, it is quite outdated in today's english language. and the font size of collin's classic is so small :( but i still love it over all!
September 29, 2024
Classic!
Homer is the G.O.A.T when it comes to ancient action genre. I can't believe that during those old times, there's a man who writes something like a modern war movie. I just love the clashing of armors, rattling of helmets, brandishing of spears, and sanguine scenes. Also, the intervention of gods and goddesses makes it more epic. Now I see why the olympians once tried to bound Zeus into chains in one of the Greek stories. Well, I could say that all of this is simply because of adultery, and to rewind it a little bit, caused by a mere apple that has the inscription, "To the fairest."
Homer is the G.O.A.T when it comes to ancient action genre. I can't believe that during those old times, there's a man who writes something like a modern war movie. I just love the clashing of armors, rattling of helmets, brandishing of spears, and sanguine scenes. Also, the intervention of gods and goddesses makes it more epic. Now I see why the olympians once tried to bound Zeus into chains in one of the Greek stories. Well, I could say that all of this is simply because of adultery, and to rewind it a little bit, caused by a mere apple that has the inscription, "To the fairest."
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews