A stunning Penguin clothbound edition of Homer's great epic in E V Rieu's classic translation The Iliad is the first & the greatest literary achievement of Greek civilization
- an epic poem without rival in the literature of the world & the cornerstone of Western culture The story centres on the critical events in the last year of the Trojan War which lead to Achilleus' killing of Hektor & determine the fate of Troy But Homer's theme is not simply war or heroism With compassion & humanity he presents a universal & tragic view of the world of human life lived under the shadow of suffering & death set against a vast & largely unpitying divine background Seven Greek cities claim the honour of being the birthplace of Homer (c 8th-7th century BC) the poet to whom the composition of the Iliadand Odyssey are attributed The Iliad is the oldest surviving work of Western literature but the identity
- or even the existence
- of Homer himself is a complete mystery with no reliable biographical information having survived E V Rieu initiated Penguin Classics with Allen Lane & his famous translation of the Odyssey was the first book published in the series in 1947 The Iliad followed in 1950