Iliad Read-along
It's not too late to join Erini Allen's August Readalong of the Iliad in whichever edition you enjoy. Erini suggests reading a book every day. Readers can contribute to a discussion thread on Discord. If you'd like to join in, message Erini on sally.stra@gmail.com.
While I have several copies of the Iliad in various English translations, I find myself again returning to the verse translation by Richmond Lattimore.
I've heard good things about the graphic novel adaptation by Gareth Hinds but haven't read it yet.
Lattimore's was the first Iliad I read, and he keeps as close as possible to the line numbers of the original Greek which is very useful when comparing the English to the Greek. But I think I love this rather tattered book most of all because of my many pencil notes throughout the text.
If you know me at all, you will be aware that I like to keep my books 'good' (no turning down the pages) and I certainly don't like cracking the spine. (If you've ever been my student, you will have heard the story of my brand new copy of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which I dropped in a puddle, minutes after purchase. Mum said, "It will be fine. We'll put it on the radiator to dry." It was never fine. 40+ years later I'm still upset about this.)
My Lattimore text though has been so well-loved and each note reminds me of happy times spent in Homer's company, and how much I love these wonderful ancient stories.
Which is your favourite translation? Verse or Prose?
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