The Iliad

The Iliad is the first and the greatest literary achievement of Greek civilization—the cornerstone of Western culture and an epic poem without rival in world literature. The story centers on the critical events in the last year of the Trojan War, which lead to Achilles's killing of Hector and the fall of Troy. But Homer’s theme is not simply war or heroism. With compassion and humanity, he presents a universal and tragic view of the world: human life lived under the shadow of suffering and death set against a vast and largely unpitying divine background. Written by Homer, Translated by E. V. Rieu 560 pages Published by Penguin Classics, 2015 Hardcover 5 x 7.75 inches