The Iliad: A Commentary, Volume 1: Books 1-4

The Iliad: A Commentary #1

by Geoffrey S. Kirk

This is the first volume of a projected six-volume Commentary on Homer's Iliad, under the General Editorship of professor G. S. Kirk. Professor Kirk himself is the editor of the present volume, which covers the first four Books of Iliad. It consists of four introductory chapters, dealing in particular with rhythm and formular techniques, followed by the detailed commentary which aims at helping serious readers by attempting to identify and deal with most of the difficulties which might stand in the way of a sensitive and informed response to the poem. The Catalogues in Book 2 recieve especially full treatment. The book does not include a Greek text - important matters pertaining to the text are discussed in the commentary. It is hoped that the volume as a whole will lead scholars to a better understanding of the epic style as well as of many well-known thematic problems on a larger scale. This Commentary will be an essential reference work for all students of Greek literature. Archaeologists and historians will also find that it contains matters of relevance to them.

Genres: Poetry

436 pages, Paperback

First published February 28, 1985

About the author

Geoffrey Stephen Kirk was an English classicist known for his writings on Ancient Greek literature and mythology. He was Regius Professor of Greek at the University of Cambridge from 1974 to 1984.

Reviews

[Elizabeth]

Not rated; when Kirk says this is meant to be read by the serious student, who has a copy of the Oxford Classic Text of the Iliad (the ancient Greek text) open at the same time, he is not kidding. Totally useless to the casual student of classics whose command of ancient Greek is, shall we say, negligible. :( Also, the introduction has the unmistakable flavor of grudgewank, that tang and savor, although I'm not conversant in '80's classics academia, so I can't identify what is provoking the crazy.

(Oh. He's the Regius Professor of Classics at Cambridge. All is explained! Okay, not really, but it amuses the hell out of me to pretend that all Regius Professors are mad.)

[Jamey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvelous.