'In Robert Fagles' beautifully rendered text, the Iliad overwhelms us afresh. The huge themes--godlike, yet utterly human--of savagery and calculation, of destiny defied, of triumph and grief compel our own humanity. Time after time, one pauses and re-reads before continuing. Fagles' voice is always that of a poet and scholar of our own age as he conveys the power of Homer. Robert Fagles and Bernard Knox are to be congratulated and praised on this admirable work.
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Homer is an ancient Greek poet traditionally said to be the author of two of the greatest epic poems of ancient Greece, the Iliad and the Odyssey. His works, which are foundational to Western literature, explore themes of heroism, fate, and the divine, set against the backdrop of the Trojan War and its aftermath. Homer's writing style is notable for its use of dactylic hexameter, rich imagery, and exploration of complex characters and moral dilemmas. Although little is known about his life and historical context, Homer's influence endures through the centuries and he remains a pivotal figure in classical literature.
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