The Iliad - Book I - Homer (Alexander Pope translation)

The Iliad - Homer - Alexander Pope translation
Book I - Read by Nick Gisburne

Full Text:
http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/h/homer/h8ip/

This is the first part of the Iliad, book 1 of 24, so as you can imagine this is a long-term project. If you haven't previously read the text it can be a little confusing because it's not always clear who is speaking - different names are used for the same person (Achilles is referred to as Pelides for example). With this in mind, I decided to visually display who is speaking - their names and a few lines of information about them become visible when they do so. Since Pope created this translation in the 18th century, some of the words he used may not be familiar, and so for several of them a small description will appear when they are mentioned. I've tried to do this only where I thought it necessary, and the best way to understand the whole poem is to read the text itself - see the link above.

There are 23 more books in the Iliad, 24 in total, so it may be that it will take me a long, long time to complete the whole text, if I ever do. Your really don't need to wait - I encourage you to use my audio as an introduction to this epic, and can absolutely recommend reading the whole story. There are several other translations if you prefer prose rather than poetry.

I hope you enjoy my interpretation of The Iliad, Book I. Thanks for listening.

PS: For something unexpected but brilliant (and true to the story), here is the Iliad told via the medium of... dolls!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgIn_Itd4_c
(and look for more Iliad books on the author's channel!)

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Gisburne2000
• Greek
• epic
• poetry
• Homer
• Iliad
• Alexander
• Pope
• translation
• Troy
• Trojan
• Wars
• Achilles
• Agamemnon
• Helen

[arcanus121]

Hi Nick, as a Greek scholar with a PhD let me pay tribute to your fine pronounciation of Greek names they are precise enough Nick, so your comments concerning worries about pronuniciation are unfounded. This is ambrosia to those of us who worship the work of Homer, which may or may not have been the product of a single poet. Keep up this mammoth undertaking.

Many thanks,

The poet

Steven Parris Ward.

[Gisburne2000]

@arcanus121 Thanks for the encouragement, it's much appreciated. For pronunciations the second half of book 2 is certainly proving to be a challenge, to put it mildly, but I'm (slowly) getting there. Beyond that my main focus is on bringing the story to life, and conveying what's going on, mainly by breathing in all the right places! At the very least, when I'm done, I'll certainly understand far more about the work than I did before I began.

[Gisburne2000]

@arcanus121 My recording of Book II of The Iliad is now complete, which certainly taxed my ability to find and recite the correct pronunciation for Greek names - there are literally hundreds of them in 'The Catalogue of the Forces'.

[HerAeolianHarp]

Wow, Nick, great to see you getting deep into these new reading projects. I'm sure this has kept you very busy, and I hope all goes well for your writing, too.

[Gisburne2000]

@HerAeolianHarp Book 2 is certainly keeping me busy - there are approximately 1.2 bazillion Greek names in it with which to test my vocal chords!

[Gisburne2000]

Everyone should also watch this comedy version, which is the best by far...

youtube.com/watch?v=HgIn_Itd4_­c

[tektamos]

@Gisburne2000 Where the Homer says Greeks ? Its Achaeans, Danaans , Argives, Troes, all were Greeks. All heroes from both sides where cousins more or less. I cant understand this misunderstanding all this years in English translations. Hector descendant of Dardanus from Theves (main Greece) married to Andromache. There is no name more Greek such a Andromache. This Greeks vs Troy is so sad and unlogical story. Madness. 

[SamFem]

GREAT post. Love your reading!!. Can't wait for book II, am so excited that u r doing. Your A. Pope version is better than the one I have, I will have to get it.

[TaePoDongIII]

Lol thanks for this audio-book!

[Dudewheresmybars]

You have the most badass voice ever

[MaybachExeleroDe]

Grazie Mille 

[HerAeolianHarp]

@Gisburne2000 I just say thanks and tip my hat to you again. It's quite a project you have been undertaking here. Best of luck.