The Essential Iliad

by Homer, Stanley Lombardo, Sheila Murnaghan

Overview

While preserving the basic narrative of the Iliad, this selection also highlights the epic's high poetic moments and essential mythological content, and will prove especially useful in surveys of world literature.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780872205437
Publisher:	Hackett Publishing Company, Inc.
Publication date:	09/15/2000
Series:	Hackett Classics
Edition description:	Abridged
Pages:	215
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Stanley Lombardo is Professor of Classics, University of Kansas.

Sheila Murnaghan is Professor of Classical Studies, University of Pennsylvania.

Editorial Reviews

Stanley Lombardo reads his translation of THE ILIAD expressively, in a strong, distinguished voice. While he doesn't individuate characters, he "feminizes" his manner for women—sometimes, unfortunately, bordering on caricature. He summarizes the books omitted from the abridgment, and Susan Sarandon summarizes those included, adding little besides her name to the package. Other omissions are noted by line numbers, a level of detail distracting and unnecessary for listeners. The original musical theme framing each book is evocative and haunting but played too often. A soft musical theme is also used to "italicize" long poetic figures, a practice distracting, pointless and, eventually, silly. The abridgment is acceptable, but one misses a lot, summaries or no. This is—essentially—a well-done presentation, but more Homer and less fuss would have been better. W.M. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine

AUG/SEP 07 - AudioFile