In Search of the Trojan War...

[Harry Faversham]

First saw this BBC TV documentary series written and presented by Michael Wood, back in 1985. Ermintrude has bought it me for my Birfday, and it's just as riveting as I remembered it, beautiful music too.
It's set me thinking that I want to re-read Homer's Iliad, but which one, I want a copy/version that's a good read? So which version, to be gleaned from Amaze-on, would be best for a thicko who wants a cracking adventure story.
Any clever Grammer Skool kids among the Brethren wot can point me in the right direction please?

[Romark]

Really enjoyed this series when it first aired too,bought the book and soundtrack on the strength of it! 
Read the Iliad back in the day but can't recommend a modern translation , sorry Harry 

[mr ed]

You want  the Fagles translation.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Iliad-Homer/dp/0140275363/ref=sr_1_1?crid=28WOB2BF1MO5O&keywords=fagles+iliad&qid=1565779163&s=books&sprefix=fagl%2Cstripbooks%2C361&sr=1-1

It's worth noting that Amazon seems to lump all the reviews for the Iliad in together, regardless of the translator, which is pretty irritating. But Fagles is a pretty punchy read, so I'd go for that one. IIRC tthe introduction from Knox is pretty good as well.

[LeadAsbestos]

Stanley Lombardo, by a mile! The only translation I've read from cover to cover and then gone back to, again and again. He remembers that the story should be exciting and engrossing. Great book!
And on a different note, check out Eric Shanower's Age of Bronze comic/graphic novels. Well researched and covers the whole scope of the war, not just the Iliad.
I'm a Trojan War nerd, what can I say?

[Harry Faversham]

Thanks chaps much appreciated, looks like I'll be having two copies of the Iliad then!
I got the soundtrack on cassette back in the day, sadly it's not available on CD. I contacted the Beeb to see wot's wot...
there's no chance of them bringing it out.

[Maniac]

I prefer Lattimore’s translation myself, but Fagles is okay.

[Captain Harlock]

I cannot recommend an english translation since im Greek. But Eric Shanower's age of bronze is a fantastic read going beyond the scope of usual graphic novels. Its very well researched, he made several trips to actual sites and he attends academic symposiums. The Gods do not appear as in the Homeric epics, he is trying to rationalize the story and bring it to its possible historical basis. So the gods appear through dreams, or acts that are attributed to them. Thetis is just a priestess and centaurs are just a horse culture tribe.
I have been following it since it first came out. Unfortunately it doesnt have a standard circulation, no one knows when and if it will be ever finished. I guess its something like His magnum opus and he is taking his time.

But it still worths the trouble and waiting. Great art, great script and tones of research and inspiration. Have in mind that there are some creative interpretations regarding the relations of some characters. But its not done to the detriment of the overall story arc.

[FierceKitty]

For my money, Pope's translation. It's far from Homer, but to compensate for that, at least it's translated into real poetry by a skillful poet.

[swiftnick]

For a thicko looking for a cracking good adventure story how about the Trojan war by Barry Strauss? Which is not a bad retelling. Told in a chatty manner and maybe slightly dumbed down.

[armchairgeneral]

I read the Fagles version sometime ago and I found it quite a slog to get through.

[N.C.S.E]

It seems there's hardly any agreement here on any translation, but I must recommend Fagles as well. There's just a weight to it that I find appealing. His Odyssey too is very strong (unlike some very recently published ones...)

I will note that Fagles has been brought up on "bloating" the text, since it's either that or lose meaning (there are simply more words going down in English compared to Ancient Greek).

[Harry Faversham]

For a thicko looking for a cracking good adventure story how about the Trojan war by Barry Strauss? Which is not a bad retelling. Told in a chatty manner and maybe slightly dumbed down.

'Dumbed down'... I like the sound of that.

 

[fastolfrus]

I cannot recommend an english translation since im Greek.

Maybe there's a potential market opening for a new translation?
If you can find a friendly publisher it might pay for your gaming supplies?

[mr ed]

Another vote for Shanower

Also Fagles' Odyssey is probably stronger than his Iliad.

[DivisMal]

There is an excellent prose translation in German by Raoul Schrott, which I’ve been reading these days, too. Looking for a good and readable English translation, too.