The Iliad: A Graphic Novel: (A Modern Visual Adaptation of Homer's Epic War Story of Greek Mythology for Young Adults)

First of all, I am biased: I believe that The Iliad is both the pinnacle and the foundation for all Western literature, and one of life's great joys for me was learning to read the immortal words of Homer in ancient Greek when I was a teenager. So imagine the thrill of seeing those immortal words translated into a graphic format! This is a complex tale, told in complex language, with an impossibly wide cast of characters in a culture that seems far away from our modern world, and yet it all comes alive on the pages of this graphic novel, just as relevant to our current events now as it was almost 3000 years ago. I am the parent of two students with learning challenges, and I am using this book to make the classics accessible to them. There is nothing simple or easy about the Iliad. The author streamlines the story somewhat, and uses different types of visual cues and reader guides to facilitate reading comprehension. At the same time, the author uses many of Homer's narrative tricks to bring specific moments to life. This book does contain plenty of violence, human trafficking and references to rape (it's about a war), so parents should exercise their judgement about appropriateness for children or young teens. It's approximately a 7th grade reading level. But it's ideal for getting young adventure-lovers hooked on heavy-hitting literature - definitely not for the Charlotte's Web crowd. As soon as the book arrived on my doorstep, I went straight to the scene of Priam clasping the knees of Achilles, and it was exactly as I'd hoped, exactly as Homer describes it. That scene answers some of life's big questions: How do you forgive the unforgivable? What does it mean to be human? What does anything mean? The author's artwork includes some archaeological touches from the time period of the Trojan War, very nice to see. The overall effect is stunning, and captures the spirit of Homer's epic poem. I didn't think the author could possibly top his editions of Beowulf, King Lear or The Odyssey, but here it is: the cornerstone of Western literature. Highly recommended for adults, teens and tweens who are curious about this ancient tale.

I own numerous copies and translations of the Iliad and this is one of m favorites. The graphics are beautiful and the writing is excellent. This is a great way to review the story and/or introduce this classic to people reluctant to tackle the original story without a basic outline like this version provides.

A great combo of story and art. If you’re looking for total accuracy, this might not be it. But it’s entertaining anyways!! Great for high school students who need a break from just reading

This book is beautiful. The text is true to the original poem, and the illustrations are colorful and engaging. It's also a great price for the quality.

Great book. Cover arrived quite bent. Should have been shipped in a box, not an envelope.

Let's start by stating that I first read Homer's epic around the age of 12 and it truly was epic - but the translation was less than smooth and the poem had lost some of its magnificence. Over the years I read it twice more, enamored by the story so much that I longed to share the joy with my daughter. But facing the clunkiness of the translated versions, I decided to see if I can find something else. I found this graphic novel. It's excellent in that it misses none of the major details. There's some gore (I would call it PG-13 level) but that's part of Homer's original story and I'm glad they didn't omit those details. Great way to introduce a child or an adult to the Iliad. Very recommended

This is the BEST way to teach the Iliad to high school students. I have been teaching the Iliad for twenty years and have used Fagles’ translation until this year. The response of students to this masterful graphic version (both Hinds translation and incredible illustrations) has been incredible. This is a work of scholarship as well as a work of art. Stunning visually and intellectually!

I think this graphic novel is FANTASTIC! It is a totally authentic version of the Iliad for any reader. The author’s notes clarify that the Iliad was written several centuries after the fact of the Trojan War and that the story had been passed down as poem and song in a long oral tradition. It was eventually written down, probably by several “bards of the Homeric tradition.” There are several translations of the Iliad so there is not any definitive “original.” As a scholar and teacher, I generally want students to read original works of literature but, when I see the depth of detail and the close adherence to what we believe to be the “original” author’s intent and meaning in Gareth Hines’ graphic historical novels, I think they are outstanding versions of fine literature for teens and adults.

Love it! It was a present for my boys and they loved it.

è piaciuto moltissimo a mio nipote

Çok iyi hazırlanmış, nitelikli bir kitap. 251+10 sayfa açıklamalı. Çizimler başarılı, kuşe kâğıda baskılı. İlyada’yı İngilizce okumak isteyen gençler için tavsiye ederim, zira çekici ve okumayı özendiriyor Fiyatını hak ediyor.

This graphic novel is a great synopsis of the main events of the last year in the Trojan War. Gareth Hinds allows the reader to clearly identify the major characters influencing the final battles. I've tried reading and listening to the Illiad, however, this graphic novel has been the most easy to follow. It also allows me to revisit the audible book version with greater ease.

Fantastic book and illustrations. Been reading together with my 9 year-old son and we both love it. Probably recommended for older children if reading on their own.