The Iliad
The Epic Classic
1st Edition
Published on 30. April 2026
Book
Hardback
720 pages
978-1-907326-53-0 (ISBN)
Description
A timeless tale of war, pride, and the cost of glory
Homer's Iliad stands as one of the greatest achievements in Western literature. Set during the final weeks of the Trojan War, the epic centres on Achilles, the Greeks' greatest warrior, whose pride and wrath threaten the fate of his comrades. As the armies of Troy and Greece clash, the poem explores the heroism and horror of battle, the bonds of friendship, and the tragic consequences of vengeance.
With gods intervening at every turn and legendary figures such as Hector, Agamemnon, and Patroclus shaping the conflict, The Iliad is both a gripping war story and a profound meditation on mortality, honour, and fate.
Inside the book:
The dramatic conflict between Achilles and Agamemnon, and the complexities of heroism
Scenes of epic battles, duels, and the fall of heroes
Themes of pride, wrath, honour, and the intervention of the gods
Modern translation and Introduction by Prof. Ian Johnston
Ideal for readers drawn to epic poetry, classical history, and the enduring questions of human nature, The Iliad is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the roots of Western storytelling.
Homer's Iliad stands as one of the greatest achievements in Western literature. Set during the final weeks of the Trojan War, the epic centres on Achilles, the Greeks' greatest warrior, whose pride and wrath threaten the fate of his comrades. As the armies of Troy and Greece clash, the poem explores the heroism and horror of battle, the bonds of friendship, and the tragic consequences of vengeance.
With gods intervening at every turn and legendary figures such as Hector, Agamemnon, and Patroclus shaping the conflict, The Iliad is both a gripping war story and a profound meditation on mortality, honour, and fate.
Inside the book:
The dramatic conflict between Achilles and Agamemnon, and the complexities of heroism
Scenes of epic battles, duels, and the fall of heroes
Themes of pride, wrath, honour, and the intervention of the gods
Modern translation and Introduction by Prof. Ian Johnston
Ideal for readers drawn to epic poetry, classical history, and the enduring questions of human nature, The Iliad is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the roots of Western storytelling.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Publishing group
John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Dimensions
Height: 202 mm
Width: 134 mm
Thickness: 59 mm
Weight
832 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-907326-53-0 (9781907326530)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Persons
Homer was an ancient Greek poet believed to have lived in the 8th century BCE. He is the author of two of the most significant epic poems in Western literature, The Iliad and The Odyssey, celebrated for their narrative depth and exploration of human experience.
Ian Johnston is Professor Emeritus of Vancouver Island University (formerly Malaspina University-College) in British Columbia, Canada, where he taught Classics and English. He has translated Aeschylus, Aristophanes, Aristotle, Homer, Ovid and Sophocles, and modern works by Kant, Kafka, Montaigne and Nietzsche. He is the author of The Ironies of War: An Introduction to Homer's Iliad (1987).
Tom Butler-Bowdon is editor of the Capstone Classics series and has written introductions to Machiavelli's The Prince, Marcus Aurelius' Meditations, Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich, and Wallace Wattles' The Science of Getting Rich. A graduate of the London School of Economics, he is also the author of 50 Self-Help Classics, 50 Success Classics, and 50 Psychology Classics.
Ian Johnston is Professor Emeritus of Vancouver Island University (formerly Malaspina University-College) in British Columbia, Canada, where he taught Classics and English. He has translated Aeschylus, Aristophanes, Aristotle, Homer, Ovid and Sophocles, and modern works by Kant, Kafka, Montaigne and Nietzsche. He is the author of The Ironies of War: An Introduction to Homer's Iliad (1987).
Tom Butler-Bowdon is editor of the Capstone Classics series and has written introductions to Machiavelli's The Prince, Marcus Aurelius' Meditations, Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich, and Wallace Wattles' The Science of Getting Rich. A graduate of the London School of Economics, he is also the author of 50 Self-Help Classics, 50 Success Classics, and 50 Psychology Classics.
Content
Introduction by Ian Johnston vii
Translator's Note xxxvii
Editor's Note xxxix
About Ian Johnston xli
About Tom Butler-Bowdon xliii
The Iliad xlv
Book One The Quarrel by the Ships 1
Book Two Agamemnon's Dream and The Catalogue of Ships 27
Book Three Paris, Menelaus, and Helen 61
Book Four The Armies Clash 81
Book Five Diomedes Goes to Battle 105
Book Six Hector and Andromache 141
Book Seven Hector and Ajax 165
Book Eight The Trojans Have Success 185
Book Nine Peace Offerings to Achilles 209
Book Ten A Night Raid 239
Book Eleven The Achaeans Face Disaster 265
Book Twelve The Fight at the Barricade 299
Book Thirteen The Trojans Attack the Ships 317
Book Fourteen Zeus Deceived 351
Book Fifteen The Battle at the Ships 373
Book Sixteen Patroclus Fights and Dies 405
Book Seventeen The Fight Over Patroclus 441
Book Eighteen The Arms of Achilles 475
Book Nineteen Achilles and Agamemnon 503
Book Twenty Achilles Returns to Battle 523
Book Twenty-One Achilles Fights the River 545
Book Twenty-Two The Death of Hector 571
Book Twenty-Three The Funeral Games for Patroclus 595
Book Twenty-Four Achilles and Priam 635
Glossary of People and Places 671
Translator's Note xxxvii
Editor's Note xxxix
About Ian Johnston xli
About Tom Butler-Bowdon xliii
The Iliad xlv
Book One The Quarrel by the Ships 1
Book Two Agamemnon's Dream and The Catalogue of Ships 27
Book Three Paris, Menelaus, and Helen 61
Book Four The Armies Clash 81
Book Five Diomedes Goes to Battle 105
Book Six Hector and Andromache 141
Book Seven Hector and Ajax 165
Book Eight The Trojans Have Success 185
Book Nine Peace Offerings to Achilles 209
Book Ten A Night Raid 239
Book Eleven The Achaeans Face Disaster 265
Book Twelve The Fight at the Barricade 299
Book Thirteen The Trojans Attack the Ships 317
Book Fourteen Zeus Deceived 351
Book Fifteen The Battle at the Ships 373
Book Sixteen Patroclus Fights and Dies 405
Book Seventeen The Fight Over Patroclus 441
Book Eighteen The Arms of Achilles 475
Book Nineteen Achilles and Agamemnon 503
Book Twenty Achilles Returns to Battle 523
Book Twenty-One Achilles Fights the River 545
Book Twenty-Two The Death of Hector 571
Book Twenty-Three The Funeral Games for Patroclus 595
Book Twenty-Four Achilles and Priam 635
Glossary of People and Places 671