Synopses & Reviews
The earliest and greatest works of Greek literature – the
Iliad and the
Odyssey – have been attributed since antiquity to the poet Homer. This concise book is an ideal introduction to the poet and his two great epics. Assuming no prior knowledge of Greek, the authorsupplies all the background information necessary to understand the poems.
The book presents an overview of the “Homeric question,” considering the authorship, composition, and transmission of the poems. It provides the historical background to the epics, literary readings of the Iliad and the Odyssey,and an analysis of the poet’s plotting, narrative technique, and characterization. The author uses comparisons between the two poems to illustrate Homeric poetics.
A final section reviews the important secondary literature on Homer and offers a guide to further reading. Throughout, the author makes use of his own original research, especially on the relations between Greek alphabetic writing and the origins of Greek literature.
Review
'“Remains the substantial and erudite introduction that it was on first printing. Powell writes with confidence, elegance, and a brisk tone, which means that the book, though aimed at an audience of specialists and non-specialists alike, is still a pleasure for the professional Homerist to read. Powell\'s book does a superb job of covering a wide range of relevant material, while remaining an entertaining and engaging walk through the state of the art of Homeric scholarship at the opening of the twenty-first century.”
New England Classical JournalPraise for the first edition:
“Powell admirably wrestles an almost impossible amount of material into a coherent presentation for his target audience ... It is well written in a clear and accessible style. Honest in his aims, Powell admirably introduces the genius and challenge of the Homeric works.”
Bryn Mawr Classical Review
“The book has a refreshingly personal touch ... Powell succeeds very well in making Homer’s poetry and Homeric problems appealing to his intended readers.”
Classical Bulletin
“Powell offers an impressive introduction to Homer, focusing on the epic texts for which he is known, the Iliadand theOdyssey… Highly recommended.”
Library Journal
“…this is a useful book as it introduces a wide range of topics with clarity…will certainly inspire readers to pursue the further study of Homer.”
Bryn Mawr Classical Review, February 2008'
Review
"Finally we have in English a companion to the poems of Homer that each and every reader should and can consult. Powell's Homer can be recommended without reservation to students at any level, as well as to older readers. Even professional Classicists are likely to find surprises in store for them."
Jack Davis, University of Cincinnati "Thoroughly enjoyable and stimulating...I read it through with pleasure, with general agreement, and with flashes of lightbulb-over-the-head-type enlightenment." Allan Griffiths, University College, London
"Powell (classics, Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison; Writing and the Origins of Greek Literature) offers an impressive introduction to Homer, focusing on the epic texts for which he is known, The Iliad and The Odyssey. Part 1 presents lucid overviews of various debates surrounding Homer's texts. The author divides the discussion into three sections: the philologist's Homer (from the perspective of language and text), the historian's Homer (The Iliad and The Odyssey as historical, archaeological, and anthropological sources), and the reader's Homer (his plot, style, and figurative language). Part 2 examines the various stories of The Iliad and The Odyssey, assessing their greatness and why they endure. While Powell expresses strong opinions on the various ways in which Homer is read, his treatment is always balanced. This work is witty, lucid, and more thorough than Paolo Vivante's Homer. Highly recommended." T.L. Cooksey, Armstrong Atlantic State Univ., Savannah Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
"Powell admirably wrestles an almost impossible amount of material into a coherent presentation for his target audience ... It is well written in a clear and accessible style. Honest in his aims, Powell admirably introduces the genius and challenge of the Homeric works." Bryn Mawr Classical Review
"The book has a refreshingly personal touch ... Powell succeeds very well in making Homer's poetry and Homeric problems appealing to his intended readers." Classical Bulletin
Synopsis
This concise book is a complete and contemporary introduction to Homer and his two master works, the
Iliadand the
Odyssey. It explains the “Homeric Question,” illuminating its current status, and critiques the literary qualities of the
Iliadand the
Odyssey, analyzing and contrasting their plotting, narrative technique, and characterization.
Updated throughout, this second edition includes a new section on Homer’s reception in ancient Greece; a new chapter on Homer and archaeology; additional maps; an updated bibliography; a glossary of names and key terms; and new information on the oral composition of the poems.
Assuming no prior knowledge of Greek, the author supplies all the background information necessary to understand the poems, making this an ideal resource for those coming to the field for the first time.
Synopsis
This concise book is an ideal introduction to Homer – the poet and his two great epics, the
Iliad and the
Odyssey.
- Student-friendly introduction to Homer.
- Provides historical background and literary readings of the Iliad and the Odyssey.
- Makes use of the author’s own original research.
- Assumes no prior knowledge of Greek.
About the Author
Barry B. Powell is Halls-Bascom Professor of Classics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His previous publications include Homer and the Origin of the Greek Alphabet (1991), A Short Introduction to Classical Myth (2001), Writing and the Origins of Greek Literature (2002), and Classical Myth (fourth edition, 2004).
Table of Contents
Chronological Chart.
Preface to the Second Edition.
Preface to the First Edition.
Introduction.
Part I: Background:.
1. The Philologist’s Homer.
2. The Historian’s Homer.
3. The Reader’s Homer.
Part II. The Poems:.
4. The Iliad.
5. The Odyssey.
6. Conclusion and Summary: Homer's Complementary Poems.
Part III: Reception:.
7. Homer and The Philosophers.
8. Homer and The Poets.
Notes.
Appendix: For Further Reading.
Index