Ideal for: Beginners
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Lattimore’s translation, originally published in 1951 and republished in a new edition in 2011 with an introduction by the classicist Richard Martin, is a classic (it was also the translation I read at school). Renowned for its fluent, clean verse, this edition is also exceptionally useful for those who want to get to grips with Homer’s world and the world of the Trojan War, with maps, glossary and line-by-line commentary included at the back.
Ideal for: Literary enthusiasts
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This is less of a translation and more a literary interpretation of the Iliad by the poet Christopher Logue – but its vivid, staccato-like, very modern feel may appeal to readers who are looking for a literary re-imagining of Homer’s epic which nevertheless stays close to the original plot-line.
Ideal for: Beginners
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Another classic translation with an introduction by renowned Homerist G. S. Kirk, including maps, bibliography and a glossary. Fitzgerald’s emphasis in his translation was on channelling the immediacy – the vividness – of the Greek into English: he once said in an interview, ‘I wanted the Greekness of the thing to come across’. This is a great translation for readers who want the feeling of reading Homer without too much poetic interpolation.
Ideal for: Intermediate
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Fagles’ translation is one of my favourites – it doesn’t provide the easiest access to the text, but it sounds beautiful read aloud and if you’re already familiar with the essentials of the Iliad it’s a great way to experience the rhythm, flow and sound of Homer’s poetry. Includes an introduction and notes by classicist Bernard Knox.
Ideal for: Beginners/Intermediate
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A former professor of Classics, Lombardo’s feel for the rhythm and sound of the ancient Greek is indisputable – and his Iliad, with its modern, vernacular feel, is likely to appeal to students and those already familiar with the Iliad alike. Like Fagles’ translation, Lombardo’s version is intended to be read aloud, and comes in both an audiobook version (performed by Lombardo himself) and in the form of a shortened selection.
Ideal for: Beginners/Students
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Notable as the first translation of the Iliad ever to have been published by a woman, Alexander’s Iliad is admirable in its own right. Clearly articulated and in a sparse style that echoes the archaic diction of the Homeric Iliad, one of the most useful features of Alexander’s translation is its line-by-line fidelity to the Homeric text, making it a valuable resource for students wishing to study the ancient Greek.