Homer's The Iliad and The Odyssey: A Biography - Classic Greek Epic Literature Analysis | Books That Changed the World | Perfect for Literature Students & Ancient History Enthusiasts

I read the Iliad and the Odyssey in the French language back when I was in school. I loved the stories, but found the text a little hard to read (I wasn't exactly used to reading poetic stories). My teacher though failed to tell us about the life of Homer; either that or I was sleeping in class!The author tells an amazing biography of Homer. Actually, he tells us many biographies of Homer. Was Homer a real person, or an imaginary one? In other words, did Homer really exist? Was Homer a woman (some scholars think so)? Did Homer write the Iliad and the Odyssey, or did many bards throughout the centuries write them (each adding to the story line)? Those are really fascinating questions, and what's more fascinating, is that no one really knows the answers. Scholars have their own theories, and many disagree with each other. So who really was Homer (if he ever existed that is)? Was Homer a poet, a philosopher, a prophet...?It is fascinating that the city of Troy was discovered in the twentieth century, making Homer's stories more real. Did the characters in the Iliad and Odyssey exist as well? Did the beautiful Helen exist, or was she a figment of Homer's imagination? No one really knows.The author starts the book by giving a short summary of the Iliad and the Odyssey. I found this very useful since I had forgotten some of the stories.The author also explains the impact the Iliad and the Odyssey had throughout history on those who read them. For example, how did the Christians and the Muslims view these two masterpieces? I particularly found the chapter on the Muslims and Homer very interesting.Another interesting fact is that not all translations of Homer's work are equal. Lucky are the readers who can read his work in the original Greek. For the rest of us, choosing the right translation is important. In this book, the author chooses the translation of Robert Fagles.The chapter on Virgil was extremely interesting. Some scholars wanted Homer's books banned from schools in favor of Virgil's books.How did different writers and scholars view Homer throughout the ages? Interestingly, some viewed Homer as vulgar and interested only in wars. He was accused of being immoral, and some wanted the Iliad and Odyssey banned from schools. Dante, for example, placed Homer in Hell in his book `The Divine Comedy.'Other scholars viewed Homer's stories as an explanation of the human state (one of pain and misery). Whatever the interpretation of Homer's work, his literary masterpieces were required readings in all schools and universities! I certainly had to read both the Iliad and the Odyssey back when I was in school, and I'm glad I did.I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I highly recommend it for all serious readers!