The Iliad

This edition of Homer's The Iliad comes with a beautiful cover and deckled edging, translated by Emily Wilson, perhaps my favourite translation of The Iliad.

Well wrapped and delivered promptly. A good read and a lovely book on the shelf.

In the introduction Emily Wilson explains the reasoning behind her translation: “Many modern English translations of Homer use contorted, unnatural language that seems to me quite alien to the experience of the Greek. Many versions create a reading experience that mirrors how first-year language students labor valiantly through each word, but have only a foggy notion of what it all means.” Emily Wilson's Iliad is a translation for the modern reader making it accessible to everyone, especially those who would have loved to read Homer but as she points out been put off by the archaic language of previous versions. There are also extensive notes, a glossary and an introduction well worth reading. It is also beautifully presented with 'French flaps' and 'deckled edging' giving it an antiquarian look and feel. (It isn't as some reviews have presumed just badly cut pages.)

I found Emily Thompson's translation of "The Iliad" to be a remarkable achievement. It breathed new life into Homer's epic tale of gods, heroes, and the Trojan War. She captured the timeless essence of the original while making it accessible to contemporary readers. Emily Thompson's translation demonstrated a deep understanding of the cultural and historical context of "The Iliad." She seamlessly integrated explanatory notes and commentary, gave invaluable insights into the significance of certain passages, the nuances of character relationships, and the symbolism woven throughout the text. This approach enhanced my appreciation and comprehension of Homer's masterpiece. Overall, Emily Thompson's translation of "The Iliad" is a tour de force that deserves a place on the bookshelves of scholars, students, and lovers of literature alike.

I look forward to reading this book, which I can only assume from the state of pages, was constructed on the back of a chariot a few thousand years ago.

The Iliad is one of those books I’ve always felt I ought to read and have always intended to read, but ultimately found the thought too intimidating. Would it be a slog? Would it bore me? Would I just not get it? Fortunately, I stumbled upon this new translation, decided I’d give it a try… And thoroughly enjoyed it! Not only is the translation itself wonderful to read, but the introduction and end notes are an invaluable resource, giving all the context required for a new reader to appreciate both the text itself and the choices made during translation. I’m now interested to read other translations and see how they differ, but I have a feeling this is the one I will be coming back to time and time again.

I previously ordered it and the page were unevenly cut. I had it refunded and bought another copy in case it was just one item. The second one was even worse!!! The cover was not even with the rest of the pages. The back was not even flat! I'm sending it back and will buy from a bookshop because this is just appalling

This Emily Wilson Iliad goes fast. This is achieved by egoless simplicity of word choice and putting the poetry into the mimesis. “My limbs have lost their flexibility” is an example of the technique. Five arthritic monosyllables and one gymnastic pentasyllable. One of the best lines of iambic pentameter I’ve ever read. She says “I hope my readers will not notice that I love Shakespeare”. Exactly right. You don’t because the language is so fleet of foot. It never snags on Shakespeare’s marvellous showing off. You have to get through the first two books before it accelerates…

Calidad del papel mala, como en estos tipos de libros en inglés, eso me lo esperaba, pero cortado sin guillotina, lleno de rebordes, con varias paginas dobladas que al abrirlas eran más grandes y que el libro cerrado se parecía a la foto de otro que también lo devolvió, como yo. ¿Sería ese el mismo libro que me enviaron después de rechazarlo él por defectuoso?

A leitura é suave, gostosa e muito direta, sem prejudicar o conteúdo e a proposta original da obra. Melhor tradução disponível!

Very nice. Must have in the shelf

Tutto perfetto

Emily Wilson’s translation of The Iliad in hardcover delivers something that a lot of versions miss—it lets the story feel immediate without sanding down its brutality. The first thing that stands out is how controlled and deliberate the language is. Like her Odyssey, the verse is clean and readable, but here it carries a heavier weight. There’s a steadiness to the rhythm that fits the subject matter—war, pride, grief—and it builds a kind of pressure as you move through the text. Nothing feels ornamental for the sake of it. What I appreciated most is how human the characters come across. Achilles isn’t just a legendary warrior; he’s volatile, wounded, and often difficult to sympathize with. Hector feels grounded in responsibility and inevitability. Even smaller characters are given just enough clarity that their deaths don’t blur together. The violence isn’t glorified—it’s specific, physical, and often uncomfortable to sit with. Wilson also does a strong job with the emotional undercurrent of the poem. The grief runs through everything, and it’s not treated as an afterthought. Moments of mourning, rage, and exhaustion feel just as important as the battles themselves. It gives the whole work a kind of gravity that lingers even in quieter scenes. Another thing worth noting is how she handles repetition and epithets. Instead of feeling redundant, they come across as intentional, almost ritualistic, reinforcing the structure of the poem without dragging down the pacing. The hardcover edition itself is solid. Good weight, durable binding, and a layout that supports the verse rather than crowding it. It feels like a book you can sit with for a long time without it becoming physically tiring to read. If you’ve found The Iliad difficult or distant in other translations, this version makes it far more accessible without simplifying it. And if you already know the text, it’s still worth reading for how clearly it brings out the psychological and emotional stakes behind the conflict. Overall, this is a powerful, grounded translation that treats the epic not as a distant legend, but as a deeply human story shaped by anger, loss, and consequence.