Homer and His Iliad
Exploring the origins and impact of an epic masterpiece
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Penguin Books Ltd
Published:10th Oct '24
Should be back in stock very soon
This paperback is available in another edition too:
- Hardback£30.00(9780241524510)
This book offers an insightful exploration of the Iliad, examining its themes, origins, and enduring impact on readers throughout history.
In Homer and His Iliad, Robin Lane Fox offers a profound exploration of one of the most significant epic poems in history. The Iliad, composed over 2,600 years ago, centers on the wrath of Achilles and the devastating impact of his anger on both the Greek and Trojan sides of the conflict. Lane Fox delves into the themes of love, loss, revenge, and the divine influence of the gods that permeate this ancient text. His analysis raises important questions about the poem's origins, its enduring relevance, and the emotional weight it carries for readers today.
Drawing from his extensive knowledge and passion for the Iliad, Lane Fox presents a compelling argument regarding its composition, including insights into when and where it was created. He integrates his findings with archaeological evidence and comparative studies of other epic narratives from different cultures. This approach not only enriches the reader's understanding of the Iliad but also situates it within a broader literary and historical context.
Unlike many interpretations of the Iliad, this book uniquely balances historical rigor with poetic sensitivity. Lane Fox examines the poem's characters, values, and imagery, offering readers a deeper appreciation for its artistry. He emphasizes the poem's poignant realism and its reflections on the natural world, making this work a valuable resource for both newcomers and seasoned readers of Homer. Ultimately, Homer and His Iliad stands as a tribute to the timeless power of this epic tale.
Robin Lane Fox has been teaching the epics for 50 years and studying them for many more. His lifelong fascination with the texts has bred a sort of feverish passion .... the book feels less like a wilful provocation than a throwing down of the gauntlet by a 76-year-old with nothing to lose. Lane Fox writes less with hope than bardic omniscience that his book will become a landmark in Homeric studies. -- Daisy Dunn * Spectator *
"Homer's Iliad is the world's greatest epic poem," writes the peerless classicist Robin Lane Fox ... Lane Fox has had a 60-year relationship with the poem ... he teases out from infinite small details hidden in the Iliad's 15,000 lines something of the antique mindset. -- Michael Prodger * New Statesman *
Robin Lane Fox – ancient historian, travelling enthusiast, gardening correspondent for the Financial Times and cavalry commander in Oliver Stone’s Alexander – is the latest to turn his hand to this form of philological necromancy. The Iliad is a poem he has known and loved since his schooldays at Eton, and it shows: there is barely a page without some personal insight or hypothesis, often accompanied by laudatory adjectives ... He knows the poem in enviable detail and has a lover’s eye both for the poem’s sublime beauty and for anything out of place ... his confidence and deep learning can be thrilling .... Homer and His Iliad is rich, imaginative, perceptive and gorgeously written. -- Tim Whitmarsh * Literary Review *
A comprehensive delight for amateurs and academics alike, as the author soars through the canon of Homeric scholarship with a magisterial deftness worthy of any Olympian. A captivating tribute to a lifelong love of the original epic. -- Lisa Hilton * Times Literary Supplement Books of the Year *
This book is the result of a lifetime spent teaching the Iliad … The approach is scholarly and based on a walker’s deep knowledge of Homer’s landscapes, but also entertainingly idiosyncratic, with much use of the personal voice … a fine personal account of the impact of the poem as a profound meditation on our human condition in what remains a dangerous world’ -- Richard Janko * Bryn Mawr Classical Review *
ISBN: 9780141997797
Dimensions: 199mm x 129mm x 28mm
Weight: 353g
464 pages