The Iliad - (Arcturus Decorative Classics) by Homer (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

The heroic story of the siege of Troy is presented here in a stunning hardback edition featuring silver cover embossing, patterned endpapers and printed page edges.

A cornerstone of Western literature, Homer's The Iliad tells the story of the weeks during the Trojan war when King Agamemnon and the hero warrior Achilles were at loggerheads.

After nine years, the Greeks are still fighting to reclaim the beautiful Helen and it is hardly the time for their supreme warrior, Achilles, to drop out of the war. But he does, in revenge against the overlord Agamemnon for seizing his concubine, Briseis. Only the death of his best friend, Patroclus, persuades Achilles to return to battle and confront the Trojan leader Hector in single combat.

This handsome gift edition features an accessible prose translation by the classical scholar and novelist Samuel Butler, first published in 1898. Exquisitely presented with printed page edges, gold cover embossing, patterned endpapers and ivory paper, it makes a wonderful collectible for any fan of classic literature.

ABOUT THE SERIES: The Arcturus Decorative Classics series brings together elegant hardcover editions of classic works, featuring Wibalin binding, stencilled page edges, foil accents and patterned endpapers. Beautifully crafted with a traditional design sensibility, this series will make a handsome collection in any home library.

About the Author

Little is known about the poet Homer. Some say he lived c. 850 BCE; others that he lived earlier - around 1102 BCE. But he is considered to be the first and the greatest of the epic poets and in addition to The Iliad is also thought to be the author of The Odyssey. Plato's Republic describes his importance to the ancient Greeks, calling him "the first teacher" of tragedy and the leader of learning.