The Essential Homer: Selections from the Iliad and the Odyssey (Hackett Classics) Paperback – Import, 15 September 2000

Very useful as a teaching aid.

Lombardo's translations of Homer are brilliant, energetic, and fun to read. While other translations are as dry and dusty as ancient Greek itself, Lombardo remarkably manages to bring it all to life, and reading both the Iliad and the Odyssey are as interesting and exciting as reading the most fascinating and lurid novel you've ever had in your hands.The best thing about this edition is that it has MAPS in the front, and NAME GLOSSARIES in the back (for both the Iliad and the Odyssey). This edition is abridged, but I found that only long, tedious descriptions of preparations for battles seemed to be missing.This is the ideal student text. (If you are looking for the best FULL edition ever, Lombardo's entire translations of the Iliad and Odyssey are also available.If I could give it six stars, I would.

I am really enjoying this book so far. The simple and efficient method of translation this book uses really helps to make it a smooth read while still getting immersed into the story. The techniques the translator uses helps to make the story seem to progress much faster than that of say, Lattimore who's word choices and lengthy sentences slow down the story, making sure to catch every detail. Both are brilliant nonetheless and avid readers should definitely try both.Someone actually mentioned that the style that this book is translated in makes for a good, quickly progressing, and modernized play that should be enjoyable for all audiences.

This translation is amazing, it is in current terms and has been translated to read like a story. If you have ever seen the movie Troy with Brad Pitt it is like reading that movie. Much of that movie comes directly from Homers Iliad. I couldn’t put it down - I remember reading the odyssey when I was in school but it was definitely not translated to read like this.

In my opinion, Homer's works are by far the best works of ancient Greece. They are still readable and enjoyable today. This is especially true for the Odyssey, which is probably the only piece of Greek fiction I would recommend reading. It is a fun tail with interesting characters.