Homer - (Blackwell Introductions to the Classical World) by Barry B Powell (Paperback)
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<p/><br></br><p><b> About the Book </b></p></br></br>This is a good, well-written introduction to Homer and his two great epics the Iliad and the Odyssey, geared towards those who have read both poems in translation but have no prior knowledge of Greek.<p/><br></br><p><b> Book Synopsis </b></p></br></br>This concise book is an ideal introduction to Homer - the poet and his two great epics, the <i>Iliad</i> and the <i>Odyssey</i>. <br /> <ul> <br /> </li> <li>Student-friendly introduction to Homer.<br /> </li> <li>Provides historical background and literary readings of the <i>Iliad</i> and the <i>Odyssey</i>.<br /> </li> <li>Makes use of the author's own original research.<br /> </li> <li>Assumes no prior knowledge of Greek.</li> </ul><p/><br></br><p><b> From the Back Cover </b></p></br></br>The earliest and greatest works of Greek literature - the <i>Iliad</i> and the <i>Odyssey</i> - 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. <br /> <p><br /> </p> <p>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 <i>Iliad</i> and the <i>Odyssey</i>, and an analysis of the poet's plotting, narrative technique, and characterization. The author uses comparisons between the two poems to illustrate Homeric poetics.<br /> </p> <p><br /> </p> <p>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.</p><p/><br></br><p><b> Review Quotes </b></p></br></br><br>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.<i>Jack Davis, University of Cincinnati</i> <br /> <p>Thoroughly enjoyable and stimulating...I read it through with pleasure, with general agreement, and with flashes of lightbulb-over-the-head-type enlightenment. <i>Allan Griffiths, University College, London</i><br /> </p> <p><br /> </p> <p>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. <i>T.L. Cooksey, Armstrong Atlantic State Univ</i>., Savannah Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.<br /> </p> <p>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. <i>Bryn Mawr Classical Review</i><br /> </p> <p>The book has a refreshingly personal touch ... Powell succeeds very well in making Homer's poetry and Homeric problems appealing to his intended readers. <i>Classical Bulletin</i></p><br><p/><br></br><p><b> About the Author </b></p></br></br><b>Barry B. Powell</b> is Halls-Bascom Professor of Classics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His previous publications include <i>Homer and the Origin of the Greek Alphabet</i> (1991), <i>A Short Introduction to Classical Myth</i> (2001), <i>Writing and the Origins of Greek Literature</i> (2002), and <i>Classical Myth</i> (fourth edition, 2004).
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