Iliad
The Story of Achilles

Homers Iliad can justly be called the worlds greatest war epic. The terrible and longdrawnout siege of Troy remains one of the classic campaigns, the heroism and treachery of its combatants unmatched in song and story. Driven by fierce passions and loyalties, men and gods battle to a devastating conclusion. Homer is full of merriment, full of open fun and delicate comedy, even farceas when Ares, wounded, bursts up to Olympus like a bomb. And the divine family! What a delightful natural party: human beings raised a degree or two, but all the same, funnier than that. They are the comic background for the tragedy belowfor the story of Achilles is a tragedythe fiery conflict of a man divided against himself, who in a few short days drops to the lowest hell of savagery, then rises to selfmastery and inward peace.W.H.D. Rouse