One of the greatest epics in Western literature The Iliad" recounts the story of the Trojan wars. This timeless poem still vividly conveys the horror & heroism of men & gods battling amidst devastation & destruction as it moves to its tragic conclusion. In his introduction Bernard Knox observes that although the violence of the Iliad is grim & relentless it co-exists with both images of civilized life & a poignant yearning for peace."