The Iliad and The Odyssey

Homer's The Iliad and The Odyssey are two of the foundational texts of Western Literature. The Iliad begins during the final weeks of the long-fought Trojan War. Nine years since the conflict began, the Greeks continue to fight to reclaim the beautiful Helen. Problems arise when King Agamemnon seizes Briseis, the concubine of legendary warrior Achilles, who in disgust abandons the conflict along with his men. The Odyssey follows The Iliad as the heroic Odysseus takes an epic and obstacle-ridden journey home following the fall of Troy. Having incensed the sea-god Poseidon, he and his men must contend with a man-eating Cyclops, deadly storms, and a witch who transforms her enemies into pigs. This edition features easily accessible translations by esteemed authors. The Iliad is translated by the late-Victorian novelist Samuel Butler, and The Odyssey by adventurer in his own right - Lawrence of Arabia - T. E. Lawrence.