Ilias & Odyssea

by Homer

Gripping listeners and readers for more than 2,700 years, 'The Iliad' is the story of the Trojan War and the rage of Achilles. Combining the skills of a poet and scholar, Robert Fagles brings the energy of contemporary language to this enduring heroic epic.

If 'The Iliad' is the world's greatest war story, then 'The Odyssey' is literature's greatest evocation of every man's journey through life. Here again, Fagles has performed the translator's task magnificently, giving us an Odyssey to read aloud, to savor, and to treasure for its sheer lyrical mastery.

Each volume contains a superb introduction with textual and critical commentary by renowned classicist Bernard Knox.

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Poetry, Mythology, Fantasy, Literature, Historical Fiction

750 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 801

About the author

Homer (Greek: Όμηρος born c. 8th century BC) was a Greek poet who is credited as the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Homer is considered one of the most revered and influential authors in history.
Homer's Iliad centers on a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles during the last year of the Trojan War. The Odyssey chronicles the ten-year journey of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, back to his home after the fall of Troy. The poems are in Homeric Greek, also known as Epic Greek, a literary language which shows a mixture of features of the Ionic and Aeolic dialects from different centuries; the predominant influence is Eastern Ionic. Most researchers believe that the poems were originally transmitted orally. Despite being predominantly known for its tragic and serious themes, the Homeric poems also contain instances of comedy and laughter.
Homer's epic poems shaped aspects of ancient Greek culture and education, fostering ideals of heroism, glory, and honor. To Plato, Homer was simply the one who "has taught Greece" (τὴν Ἑλλάδα πεπαίδευκεν). In Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, Virgil refers to Homer as "Poet sovereign", king of all poets; in the preface to his translation of the Iliad, Alexander Pope acknowledges that Homer has always been considered the "greatest of poets". From antiquity to the present day, Homeric epics have inspired many famous works of literature, music, art, and film.
The question of by whom, when, where and under what circumstances the Iliad and Odyssey were composed continues to be debated. Scholars remain divided as to whether the two works are the product of a single author. It is thought that the poems were composed at some point around the late eighth or early seventh century BC. Many accounts of Homer's life circulated in classical antiquity; the most widespread account was that he was a blind bard from Ionia, a region of central coastal Anatolia in present-day Turkey. Modern scholars consider these accounts legendary.

French: Homère, Italian: Omero, Portuguese, Spanish: Homero.

Reviews

[André Neves · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read it when was in school and it was obligatory Portuguese subject reading. I tried a second reading and decided to give another opportunity to this masterpiece and I really really enjoyed it even more than the first time.

[Christina · Rating 1 out of 5]

It didn't take me long to figure out that I'm not a Homer girl. I think the problem was partly that after years of taking in entertaining, probably dumbed down versions of the stories, the reality ended up a bit of a let down. Another problem was I had trouble liking any of the characters. Achilles? Hector? Even Odysseus? Ugh! Whiney, deceitful, and not very likeable!

The Iliad was pretty painful to get through. I forced myself to finish and didn't even get a payoff in the end. What happened to Troy?! Andromache?! Priam?! The Iliad won't tell you! The sacking of Troy is alluded to in the Odyssey with a brief overview of the Trojan Horse and the men hiding in it. That's it!

The Odyssey was better than the Iliad, maybe 2 stars.

I have a bit of a complex now that I've read the books and not liked them. I consider myself a fairly intelligent person, but I just couldn't connect with these classic works of literature that have been read by, and enjoyed by countless people for centuries.

[باقر هاشمی · Rating 5 out of 5]

پسر خوانده‌های پدر خوانده‌ایم

داستان کشیده شدن ام به طرف این کتاب از آنجا بود که وقتی رساله های افلاطون و ارسطو را مطالعه می‌کردم در چندین‌جا به آثار هومر اشاره کرده بودند و از طرف دیگر، خیلی از کارگردان‌های اروپایی هم در فیلم‌هایشان به تکرار، از قهرمانان این داستان ها یاد کرده بودند. و در بسیاری از داستان‌ها هم اسامی خدایانِ یونان و قهرمانان این داستان را شنیده بودم و تصمیم گرفتم بارِ این شرمساری از خود را، بیش از این به‌دوش نکشم و ایلیاد و اودیسه را مطالعه کنم. اولش وقت گذاشتن روی مطالعه‌ی مجلدی هزار صفحه‌ای برایم موجه نبود اما آن را مانند داروی تلخی که پزشک توصیه کرده باشد شروع کردم به خواندن، و دیری نگذشت که شیفته‌ی داستانِ آن شدم و گفتم عجیب است که یک نفر نابینا در حدود سی‌قرن پیش، چنین شاهکاری خلق کرده باشد. به انگیزه‌اش برای هموار کردن رنجِ نوشتنِ آن بر خودش، درود می‌فرستم.
ایلیاد داستانی حماسی است. پاریس، هلن، زنِ زیباروی پادشاه را می‌دزدد جنگی بین تروا و یونان درمی‌گیرد. داستانِ ایلیاد پر از خون و پیکار و گاوهای قربانی‌شده برروی آتش و زن‌های به اسارت گرفته‌شده و رشادت‌های قهرمانانه است. ایلیاد قدیمی‌ترین متنی است که در آن از خدایان کوه المپ یاد شده است و از این‌جهت مرجعی تاریخی به‌حساب می‌آید.
اودیسه هم داستان بازگشت اولیس از جنگ ترواست. اولیس بعد از پیروزی در جنگ‌ها زنان‌شان را دسته‌دسته به غنیمت میگیرد، خوب‌ها را اول خودش برمیدارد و بقیه را به انصاف، بین لشکریانش تقسیم می کند. حالا(زمانِ جاری در داستان اودیسه) بعد از چند سال غیاب اولیس، برای زنش خواستگار پیدا شده است و خبرش به گوش اولیس رسیده است. او هم به غیرتش برمی‌خورد و بعد از تحمل رنج‌های زیاد، به وطنش برمی‌گردد تا با پسرش تلماک، خون خواستگارهای بی شرم زنش را بریزد.
خواندن اودیسه برای من به اندازه‌ی خواندن ایلیاد لذت‌نبخشید.

مطالعه‌ی این دو کتاب را به‌تأکید، برای کسانی که به‌طور جدی رمان می‌خوانند توصیه می‌کنم. ترجمه‌ی میرجلال‌الدین کزازی کمی سنگین است اما ترجمه‌ی سعید نفیسی خیلی خوب و روان است. نشر هرمس هم، هر دو کتاب را در یک مجلد با کیفیت به چاپ رسانده است. من نسخه‌ی نشر هرمس را خواندم.

[Lucinda Reed-Nowland · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best story ever-it has everything-love, romance, war, brave, handsome men, exotic places, monsters, beautiful women-its all in these two stories. Odysseus is my all-time favorite hero, and although he is a brave hero, he has his faults and it's this combination that makes him so lovable and what makes this story one of the greatest of all time. The text can be difficult to read, and following the who's who of the gods and goddesses can be quite a feat. I've read it several times, I never get tired of it.

[Tohid hadinejad · Rating 5 out of 5]

اندیشه های بزرگی در این کتاب نهفته است. بی شک خواندن آن را به تمامی کسانی که به خواندن داستان علاقه دارند پیشنهاد می کنم. شاید چندین بار ...

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Other than the gruesome, violent images often presented in magnificent detail (hey, it is a war!), I really enjoy reading Homer's epic poem. Where else are we given such insight into stubborn Agamemnon, noble Hector, intelligent and well-spoken Odysseus, lazy and spineless Paris, guilt-ridden Helen, the wrath of the warrior Achille's and how vain he can be? We can identify with Trojan and Greek alike, agonizing with both sides over the destructiveness of war. We get the inside story on all the Greek and Trojan heroes and what makes them tick. And best of all, we get a behind-the-scenes, humorous look at the Greek gods; their strengths, weaknesses and all the squabbles and fuss that take place between them. The Iliad is really incomplete without The Odyssey, so I will be reading and reviewing that book as well.

I had read a synopsis of the adventures of Odysseus in high school, but it was nice to read the entire epic poem to get the full story. Odysseus is an intelligent, cunning hero and you are really rooting for him by the time he finally makes it home from his long journey and is ready to take action against the usurpers of his household. So many stories of this time period end in tragedy, it's nice that there is a satisfactory end to Odysseus's story after so many years of pain and heartache for him and his family.

I enjoyed The Odyssey more than The Iliad because it seems a more intimate story overall. We really come to know the man Odysseus, his son Telemachus and wife, Penelope through their thoughts and interactions with others. The Iliad takes place during the Trojan war and focuses on the Greek and Trojan warriors and what takes place on the battlefield. The Odyssey is not quite a continuation of the Iliad, but takes place 10 years after the end of the Trojan war from which the great warrior Odysseus never returned. It seems he had some trouble on the high seas and on various islands along the way and has been unable to make it home. In the meantime, his home has been invaded by suitors who think he is dead and want to marry Penelope. Telemachus is not strong or powerful enough to throw them out and goes on a journey to find news of his father. With the help of the gods, Odysseus and Telemachus are finally able to defend their home. I would recommend reading both The Iliad and Odyssey together but if you're only going to pick up one, read The Odyssey.

[Amirsaman · Rating 4 out of 5]

برای شرحی عالی از ایلیاد به این کورس مراجعه کنید:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

برای شرحی عالی از اودیسه به این کورس مراجعه کنید:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

همچنین تماشای این مینی‌سریال برای تجربه‌ی بصری داستان اودیسه، توصیه می‌گردد:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ody...

[leynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I literally have a thousand books on my TBR yet here I am thrifting Homer's work in a German translation (I've been looking for for ages, ever since Said recommended Ebener's translation on here). Gods, help me. I'm seriously contemplating rereading both of these fucking books in 2026 and nothing else.

[Keivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The translation was pretty readable. This is part of the Great Books of the western world Collection that I have set out to read.

Ulysses is my favorite Greek hero.Always was always will be. I read parts of some butchered version in high-school but this one seems to have satisfied my goddess needs.

I think we perhaps need some revitalization of the sentiments present in these books to save America from going down the cultural tubes. When the Odyssey is replaced with the "jersey Shore" cannot possibley turn out well.

How could i rate such a classic any less than 5 stars!?

[Elena Sinagra · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading “The Song of Achilles” I found a new interest in Ancient Greece, as well as the myths and stories that go along with it. “The Iliad and the Odyssey” is as much about history and collective humanity as it is about the actual story of the Trojan War and Odysseus’s voyage home. Although at times difficult to read and tiring, it is a timeless piece of literature that has inspired countless other great works of art. Odysseus has survived the Trojan War and the perilous journey back to Ithaca. He, however, finds life difficult after the voyage. This reminds me of Joseph Campbell’s “The Hero with a Thousand Faces”, where he argues that the mythological hero doesn’t just have to just survive whatever trial he/she went through, but also has to return home and share what has been learned.

[Ashkan Ansari · Rating 5 out of 5]

جدا از جایگاه خود اثر هومر، ترجمه سعید نفیسی هم کم مانند است. هرچند که برای کسانی که به خواندن ترجمه های رمان های سبک غربی عادت دارند، کمی سنگین است اما خواندنش بی گمان جذاب است

[✨Bean's Books✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a damn Greek tragedy!
The Iliad takes us through the battle of Troy and the Greek invasion. We are able to Marvel at great warriors like Hector and Achilles. We are able to hear of their struggles and their woes and eventually their deaths.
The Odyssey takes us through the 10-year struggle to return home after the Trojan War has ended. Odysseus battles mystical creatures and the Wrath of the Gods as he tries desperately to come back home to his throne.
Homer is definitely a master of the Greek epic. His writing resembles that of a playwright of modern day and even harkens back to a bit of Shakespearean feeling in the emotion of the characters. This is definitely a classic for the ages and in my opinion one that should be read once by everyone.

[محمد الهاشمي · Rating 4 out of 5]

الإلياذة والأوديسة في نظري تستحقان أكثر من خمس نجوم..فقط هذه النسخة التي ترجمها مجدي كامل لم تكن الأفضل في نظري. قرأت نسخة بعدها بدت أفضل. لو تسنى الوقت لوجدت الكتاب ووضعت اسم المترجم وأظن أنها نسخة صدرت عن المجمع الثقافي بأبوظبي -لست متأكدا-. عموما هاتين الملحمتين فاقتا كل حدود الأزمنة وختمتا على عصور ما قبل التاريخ شعار بداية جديدة مليئة بالخيال الممتزج بالواقع وهو ما صنع فعلا عهد "التاريخ" لحضارة البشر. هذا الخيال لربما أسس بدوره دعائم فلسفة الدين والكينونة فيما بعد ولربما أنه أيضاً شكل الكثير من أسس منظومة أخلاق ولاوعي البشرية

[Erica Darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be read while listening to Jorge Rivera-Herrans' excellent musical adaptation: Epic Official Concept Album.
A true masterpiece 🤩.

[nazanin]

دراپ شد با اینکه خیلی وقت بود میخواستم بخونم
ولی همینکه بازش کردم
ورق زدم
اصلا نتونستم
نگرفت
خیلی قدیمیه چون شاید
یا ترجمش یجوریه
شاید چون فن شاهنامه نشدم اینم نمیتونم
از شاهنامه لحنش بدتر بود برام😕

[Rêbwar · Rating 4 out of 5]

آن‌جا که خدایان ساکت می‌شوند، صدای هومر هنوز ادامه دارد.

دو آواز جاودان؛ نبردِ مرگ و بازگشتِ رنج

این دو حماسه‌ کهن، نه صرفاً آثار ادبی، که معابد اندیشه و تخیل بشرند. در ایلیاد، صدای گام‌های سنگینِ خشم و مرگ می‌آید؛ در ادیسه، نسیمِ خستهٔ سفرِ بازگشت. هومر، با زبانی شفاهی که قرن‌ها در دهانِ راویان چرخیده، به ما دو جهان می‌دهد: یکی در میدان جنگ، دیگر در دلِ دریاها. و میان آن دو، انسانِ یونانی ایستاده، تنها، در برابر سرنوشت، خدایان، و درونی‌ترین وسوسه‌هایش.

ایلیاد آغاز می‌شود نه با تولد، که با خشم. خشمِ آخیل، قهرمانی نیمه‌خدا، که زخمی‌ست از توهین، از غرورِ مجروح. این خشم، نه اخلاقی‌ست، نه انسانی. خشم، محورِ حرکتی‌ست که صدها تن را به کام مرگ می‌برد. تراژدی‌ای که با مرگ پاتروکلوس به اوج می‌رسد و با نبرد با هکتور به نقطهٔ رهایی می‌رسد. ایلیاد دربارهٔ جنگ نیست؛ دربارهٔ جاودانگی در جنگ است. مردان می‌میرند تا آوازشان بماند، تا نسیانِ زمان، نام‌شان را پاک نکند.

ادیسه، در عوض، دربارهٔ بازگشت است؛ بازگشتِ اودیسه‌وس از دلِ دریاها، از دل وسوسه‌ها، افسون‌ها، سرگردانی‌ها. اینجا، مبارزه با نیزه نیست؛ با زمان است، با هویت، با تنهایی. اودیسه‌وس، نه فقط یک پهلوان، که یک انسانِ کامل است: زیرک، شکاک، وفادار، دروغ‌گو، ویران‌گر و عاشق. در سفر او، تک تک مراحل، نمادی از چالش‌های روانی و هستی‌شناختی بشرند:

سیرن‌ها، نماد جذابیتِ دانشی‌ست که انسان را به هلاکت می‌کشاند.

جزیرهٔ کالیپسو، کششِ جاودانگی و شهوتِ بی‌پایان.

کورِ پلیفموس، خشونتِ کور و بی‌اخلاقِ طبیعت.

بازگشت به ایتاکا، نه فقط بازگشت به خانه، که بازگشت به هویت، قدرت، و تعادل از دست رفته.


ایلیاد حماسهٔ مرگ است؛ ادیسه حماسهٔ زمان. یکی در بیرون رخ می‌دهد، دیگری در درون. در یکی، افتخار در میدان نبرد است؛ در دیگری، در خانه‌سازی دوباره.

از منظر نشانه‌شناختی، هر دو متن لبریز از دال‌هایی‌ هستند که ساختار اسطوره، دین، جنسیت و قدرت را پیش‌نویسی می‌کنند. زن در ایلیاد غنیمت است، در ادیسه آزمون. خدایان، در ایلیاد موجوداتی هستند که غرایز انسانی را مطلق کرده‌اند؛ در ادیسه، خدایان بیشتر داوران و گمراه‌کنندگانند. قهرمانان در ایلیاد به‌دنبال افتخارند، در ادیسه در پی بقا.

از نظر روانشناسی یونگی، می‌توان گفت که آخیل نمایندهٔ سایه و کهن‌الگوی جنگجو است، در حالی که اودیسه‌وس، کهن‌الگوی مسافر و مردِ دانا را زنده می‌کند.
در ایلیاد، انسان با دیگری در نبرد است؛ در ادیسه، با خودش.

و از نظر سیاسی ـ اجتماعی، این دو اثر تبلور دوران گذار از فرهنگ قبیله‌ای به مدنیت‌اند. در ایلیاد، پادشاهان بر نیزه حکومت می‌کنند؛ در ادیسه، قدرت در خانه، در عقل، در قصه‌گویی مستقر می‌شود.

در نهایت، هومر نه صرفاً شاعری از عهد باستان، که صدای آن رنجی‌ست که بشرِ امروز هم می‌شناسد. او از مرگ و سرگردانی، جاودانگی ساخت؛ از سفر، اندیشه آفرید. و دو متن‌اش، همچون آینه‌ای‌ست از خویش: یکی ما را در میدانِ خون و خشم نشان می‌دهد، دیگری در دریای بی‌پایانِ خواستن، بازگشت، و دانایی.

[Diana Willemsen]

Hoe beoordeel je zo’n klassieker? Aan de keren dat je hem hebt meeverhuisd?

[max theodore]

okay i miiiiight actually dnf this by which i mean... mark it as finished without reading the odyssey part. because as cool as this edition is, visually (gold pages!!!), it's in prose, and reading the iliad in poetry has made me realize that - holy shit, guys - an epic poem should probably be read in poetry! or at least it's more fun that way for me. gary i need a non-prose odyssey etc etc anyway shoutout to my brother for letting me borrow this in the first place

[Cindy Rollins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am reading this to two sets of students and it never gets old. My only complaint is that the Provensons left out Argos. I do believe it is the best children's Homer I have read. I love the chapter breakdowns which are almost parallel to the poems. The Provensons never disappoint, do they?

[LPosse1 Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Most Cinematic Journey Home

After completing four different versions of The Odyssey—Emily Wilson’s modern translation, Stephen Fry’s wonderfully accessible retelling, Gareth Hinds’ outstanding graphic novel, and now Robert Fagles’ celebrated translation—I can honestly say that Fagles’ version was the most engaging and cinematic of them all.

What made this reading experience especially memorable was that I had just seen Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. As I listened to the audiobook, scene after scene from the film came flooding back into my imagination. The combination of Fagles’ powerful language and the vivid imagery from the movie made me feel less like I was reading an ancient epic and more like I was tagging along on Odysseus’ long, dangerous journey home.

Fagles strikes a wonderful balance between poetic grandeur and narrative momentum. The language has weight and beauty without ever becoming so dense that it slows the adventure. Storms rage, monsters terrify, battles roar, and quiet moments with Penelope and Telemachus carry genuine emotional power. By the end, I wasn’t simply admiring Homer’s masterpiece—I felt like I had lived it.

One of my biggest takeaways from this month-long Odyssey immersion is that every version offers a different doorway into the story. Gareth Hinds provides an excellent visual introduction, Stephen Fry is perhaps the friendliest guide for first-time readers, Emily Wilson invites deeper conversations about power, slavery, and gender, while Fagles delivers the epic in all of its sweeping, heroic grandeur.

What also struck me this time was how central Telemachus and Penelope are to the story. Odysseus may be the legendary hero, but Penelope’s wisdom and resilience preserve Ithaca, while Telemachus’ growth reminds us that every generation has the opportunity—and the responsibility—to leave the world a little better than it found it. That message resonates just as strongly today as it did nearly three thousand years ago.

One final reflection. Robert Fagles’ translation wasn’t even on my radar a few months ago. Like many readers new to Homer, I initially gravitated toward the newer translations. But as I immersed myself in the epic, something interesting happened. Time and again, seasoned readers and longtime lovers of the classics kept recommending Robert Fagles. There was a reason.

When this translation appeared in the mid-1990s, it quickly earned widespread acclaim and has remained one of the most beloved modern translations ever since. After finally experiencing it for myself, I completely understand why. Some books—and some translations—earn their reputation over decades, not through hype, but because generation after generation of readers keeps handing them to the next person and saying, “Start here.”

If you’re looking for the version that feels most like a great adventure film, this is it. Fantasy readers who love Tolkien, Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings, or Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey will likely feel right at home. More than 2,700 years after it was first composed, Homer’s epic still has the power to make us wonder what it means to endure, to return home, and to become the people we were meant to be.

Because of this month-long immersion—reading four different versions of the epic, listening to the audiobook, and experiencing Nolan’s film—I truly felt like I was traveling alongside Odysseus for the entire journey. I’m just glad I wasn’t eaten by a Cyclops.

Five enthusiastic stars.

https://substack.com/@lposse1

[Flybyreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the war that started it all. The legend that became a culture, converted into fiction, comic books and movies. The most meaningless yet brutal war that took two decades, thousands of good men and gods wasted their everything to become a part of. This is the one and only: Iliad and Odyssey.

Iliad ⭐⭐⭐

“Any moment might be our last. Everything is more beautiful because we're doomed. You will never be lovelier than you are now. We will never be here again.”

Iliad was a confusing, brutal and unnecessary. It all started over Helen, who is abducted against her will and brought to Troy. Then hell broke, the armies of best men of the time are gathered while Gods gathered their strength and choose their sides. The battle was too weird to even to mention; when you think it’s about to end, a God or Goddess interferes and yet another day ends with a ceasefire, another chapter wasted on nothing.
The book opens with the conflict between Achilles and Agamemnon over trophy women taken from Troy. That is the point Greeks lose their champion warrior, who sit sulking until the end while the others try to survive. Everybody -both mortal and immortal- is too tense, stubborn and play tricks to win. They are often disguised as somebody else, burn thigh bones and create hecatombs to lure Gods in order to win this endless war that took 10 years. By the time they were done, everybody had already forgotten why they were there. The war is fought “one step forward, two step backs” thanks to all mighty immortals, who just cannot let mere humans deal with their own problems. Though sometimes frustrating, it was entertaining to watch how even the simplest of issues may lead to war and destruction; Gods acting like humans and cannot control emotions, everyone in power manipulating and stipulating while war is fought by mere foot soldiers.
The most disappointing part of this book was the ending and that there’s no mention of the wooden horse (The famous Trojan horse!). The best part is that now I can relate to most works of mythological fiction and many attributions to this ancient classic literature.

Odyssey ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Man is the vainest of all creatures that have their being upon earth.”

Odyssey is yet another frustrating never-ending journey made Odyssey (Ulysses) regret surviving the Trojan War. Well, everybody either dead at war or on the road back home, Odyssey finds himself catapulting between islands with a bunch of men, who makes you question how the hell they did not manage to die in the battlefield. Gods, sirens, titans all fixate on our hero on his return journey; either helping him or trying to kill him. While at home the son and wife of Odyssey cry their eyes out waiting for him to return, which eventually takes about 10 years. This tale reminded me of the adventures of Sinbad from Arabian Tales, the misfortunes and lack of luck never cease to stop until he find a safe passage home. Yet another war waits for him at home, for tens of hundreds of suitors are camped outside to marry his wife Penelope and take the throne of Ithaca. I have to admit I enjoyed the return journey much better the war, the aftermath of Troy and how the survivors ended up. There’s only cursory, tiny little mention of the horse that sealed the fate of the war, which led to yet another disappointment on my side.

Overall, an overwhelming, exhausting and pain-in-the-arse kind of book yet an entertaining must-read, love-or-hate kind of classic literature.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, after hearing of the Iliad and the Odyssey for my entire life through the miasma of culture, media, and that one primary school teacher who, to my memory, taught me nothing but greek myth (big up Miss Fahey), I finally got around to reading them.

Well, kind of.
Reading stories this old is like saying you finally heard Bohemian Rhapsody, but it was played by some guy in a pub who heard another guy describe it (admitantly, really well) on the radio from the time his dad played it for him after hearing a woman sing it in a talent show after she heard it from etc. etc. etc. etc.


Homer Looking at His Writing Credits


We call the author 'Homer', but from the original story, how much of Homer's work is actually Homer? How much of Homer was the OG Homer? Do we even know if any of Homer's words even survived the subsequent changes the other Homers added to the text? And what about the text? Do we count the person who first put it to paper as a 'Homer'? Or are they just counted as translators? And what about translators??

These are too many questions to sift through and I'm no where near qualified enough to answer any of them so I'm not getting involved in that whole nebulous "oral tradition" malarky, it's irrelevant as I can only judge what I have read in this here collection of words that made up two long (but brilliant) poems. All the points I have about these epics, positive and negative, stem from the literary collection that I imbibed.

So here is what I think of that pysical thing that I bought which had two epic poems called The Iliad and The Odyssey, which were both written down onto the page by some guy other than Homer, then Translated by another dude who also wasn't Homer, and read by a guy who really isn't Homer. I'm talking about that.


Oh! And to make it even more confusing, I listened to them via audiobook. Yeah, this review is already a mess...

The Iliad: Hot Take
"Like a girl, a baby running after her mother, begging to be picked up, and she tugs on her skirts, holding her back as she tries to hurry off—all tears, fawning up at her, till she takes her in her arms… That’s how you look, Patroclus, streaming live tears."



So, when I finished the Iliad I made a joke that what Homer had written really was the foundation of storytelling because he wrote the Iliad before endings were invented. *ba-dum-tiss*
For those who don't understand, the Iliad does not include the fall of Troy, the wooden horse, nor even the death of Achilles. They're all (save for the wooden horse) alluded to, foreshadowed, and set up throughout the poem, but they're not described or shown. Long story short; no pay off. The poem ends before any of that occurs.
Now I hear you say, "but Tom, that's not what the Iliad was about! It was about Achilles, his argument with Agamemnon, and his rage at the death of Patroclus. Everyone knows all of that is going to happen anyhow, you don't need to show it."
Yes, granted, Achilles' plot is integral to the story, and all of those points are valid.
BUT
The structure and time given to the overarching plot of the war, its soldiers and its greater surroundings, not to mention the battle between the gods, is left unfinished. For HUGE swathes of the poem, we were brought inside battles, raids, plans for tearing down walls, loss of naval escape routes, people's families back home and debts that are forever left unpaid and crimes that are left unresolved due to the actions and the bloodshed of the trojan war. This story arc takes up a greater proportion of the poem than Achilles' arc does, and it's left unresovled.
Hell, I'd even argue Achilles' arc is left unresolved. The poem ends with him recieving the glory deserved to him from gods, enacting his revenge on Hector, giving a funeral for Patroclus, and giving Hector's body back to his father, the king. But what it doesn't show is him paying for all of these great deeds with his own death, a death that every immortal being, including Achilles' own mother, won't stop talking about.
It would be like ending the play 'Dr. Faustus' with him becoming the greatest magician in the world, and as the punters are leaving the theatre telling them, "Oh obviously he goes to hell after this. Everyone could see that coming!"

Many will disagree, and that's fair, but in my view that's a poorly structured pay-off and it hindered my enjoyment of the poem, hence my rating it 2/5 stars.


The Odyssey: the Comeback of the Millennia



Aw man, what a recovery. What. A. Recovery. Both for Odysseus, and for Homer. This poem has everything, non-linear storytelling, cyclopses, dead mothers, unrelenting suitors, domestic abuse, a thirsty goddess stuck on paradise island, Odysseus crying like all the time and as soon as he gets home he tells his son not to be such a woman.
What a ride, what a change in the quality of structure, everything is remembered and tied off with a neat bow. Whichever Homer that was in charge of taking care of the Odyssey did a stellar job. I actually have no complaints - save for the rampant woman hating in the poem, obviously. I mean Odysseus had all of his female servants who slept/ were raped by the suitors lynched at the end, which has NOT aged well.
Then again, this story is older than the written word so you can't blame it for being outdated at times.

5/5 stars

Conclusion

Despite my faults found with the Iliad, I'd still suggest reading it. It's a brilliant poem and so many turns of phrase have stemmed from its writing, not only that, the descriptions of the battles are of mid 2000s anime levels of scale and hype proportions. At one point Achilles fights a fucking RIVER and WINS.
I will say that the Iliad is an unfinished text, and you need to read both together for a completion. To me, they're two sides to the same aegean coin, and you NEED the Odyssey to pick up the slack that the Iliad drops.

Overall: 4/5 stars

[1marcus · Rating 5 out of 5]

The “Iliad and the Odyssey” keeps you on the edge of your seat from the beginning of the story to the end. I’m not into books like this one but I LOVED this book. The adventure, mystery, and the understanding of pre-history are great for anyone who wants to read this book. All these things made me want to read the book over again and even write a book review on it.


First the adventure is wild from the start. Fighting the Cyclopes and winning made me think that no matter what the size of the person or object I can win if I put my mind to it and want it bad enough. Adventure keeps me reading the book. If the book doesn’t have adventure I will close the book and go do something else with my time but I didn’t have to do that once with this book.


Next the mystery keeps you guessing you think you know hats going to happen but you don’t. The author “Homer” does a great job of that this makes one keep reading and keep guessing until you get to the end the story. If you know what’s going to happen in the story why keep reading the book that would be a waste of time you can go do something else with your time like go outside and work on your jump shot or something like that. Never will you have to do that with this book.

Last the understanding of the pre-history is good for one if they are trying to learn about ancient history. One person said “The "Odyssey" is a magnificent piece of literature that we find absolutely spectacular in the fact of its potential for helping us understand pre-history of many ancient cultures, and because of the fact that it is so well written and perhaps one of the first "books" (epics) ever written down. We hope that you find Homer's "Odyssey" enjoyable whether you are reading it for school, for study, or for pleasure.”(http://library.thinkquest.org/19300/d...) After reading the book I knew so much about ancient history I passed all my test with all A’s with no problem


In conclusion I hope my three reasons have you wanting to read this book. The adventure, mystery, and the understanding of pre-history are great for anyone who wants to read this book. Now I have informed you about the book now it’s up to you to see what are you going to do either read this great book or just go on with your life ignorant. What will you do

[Nazila Goodarzian · Rating 4 out of 5]

شروع کتاب برام جذاب بود ولی رفته رفته از جذابیتش کم شد…
گاهی تکراری میشد .. گاهی خسته کننده.. در کل ایلیاد رو بیشتر دوست داشتم… ادیسه هم بعضی قسمت هاش شیرین بود.. به هر حال به نظرم کتابیه که باید خوند حتی اگه خوندنش ۱ ماه طول بکشه …

[Gedankenlabor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Homer, einer der frühsten Dichter des westlichen Teils von Europa… seine Werke „Ilias“ & „Odyssee“ zählen zu den ältesten fiktionalen Werken der Weltliteratur.
In „Illias“ wird ein Abschnitt des trojanischen Krieges geschildert, während wir in der „Odyssee“ die Abenteuer des Königs Odysseus von Ithaka und die Rückkehr des Königs und seiner Gefährten aus dem trojanischen Krieg begleiten.
Beide Erzählungen schrieb Homer in Gesängen nieder, die für mich einen ganz wundervollen poetischen Aspekt mit sich brachten. Gleichzeitig verbindet Homer seine Geschichten oftmals mit der Natur, was mir sehr gefallen hat! Trotz der Schönheit dieses literarischen Schatzes, muss ich auch sagen, dass es nicht immer ganz so einfach ist Homers Gesängen zu lauschen. So manches Mal brauchte ich wirklich Geduld, viel Muße und einen langen Atem um folgen zu können.
Insgesamt hat es sich aber sehr sehr gelohnt sich mit beiden seiner Werke näher zu beschäftigen und dies auch weiterhin zu tun. Denn beide Werke tragen viel mit sich und lassen einen ganz besonderen Blick in die ersten literarischen Werke überhaupt zu und fordern vom Leser Aufmerksamkeit und wie ich finde auch den Willen sich mit teilen der frühen Geschichte, Glaube etc. auseinander zu setzen.
Sicher werde ich nicht mein Leben lang Homer studieren, doch werden diese beiden Werke stets präsent sein und sicher immer mal wieder meine Aufmerksamkeit fordern. Vorallem in dieser, wie ich finde gelungene Ausgabe des Anaconda Verlages (Schuber mit beiden Bänden), die gespickt ist mit vielen Illustrationen macht es zudem wirklich was her!

Wer sich literarisch einfach mal an die Anfänge begeben möchte und sich nicht scheut Geduld und Aufmerksamkeit mitzubringen, dem sei dieser Schuber mit beiden Bänden des Dichters Homer sehr ans Herz gelegt!

[David Withun · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Nãdjwã · Rating 4 out of 5]

بين الخيال و الواقع ،الأسطورة و الحقيقة هو ذاك الخيط الرفيع الدقيق، الذي لا يجيدُ اللعب على أوتاره إلا هو : هوميروس، الأعمى هوميروس ، العازف على قيثارة الزمن، المنظم لشعر خالدٍ خلود الآلهة التي تأبى الفناء ، فترضى بالبقاء كأنشودة، كشعر ، أسطورة خالدة تتناقلها الأجيال ، في رحلة على متن سفينتي (الالياذة) و (الاوديسة ) رحلة تخطفك من نفسك ،من زمنك لتُلقي بك على أعتاب عصور بائدة ، إلى ساحة الوغى قد تحمل سيفاً أو رمحاً لا يهم، فربما تبسق ( أتروبوس) و تقطع خيط حياتك في أية لحظة !!

أنشد يا هوميروس!
يا شاعر الأحقاب الخالية!
يا صَدَى الزمان القديم!
أيها القيثارة المرِنَّة في أنامل الأيام!
أرسل من الأزل أنشودتك تملأ الأسماع في الأبد!
واعصف مع الريح واهتف مع البلابل.
وتقبَّل تحيات المعجبين.

#على جبل الأولمب:
الإلياذة و الاوديسة ليستا مجرد ملحمة شعرية تناقلتها الأجيال هي أكثر من ذلك ، هي لوحة رسمها هوميروس بدقة متناهية و بألوان شتى مزج بينها ببراعة و من هذه اللوحات يتبادر إلى ذهن القارئ لهذه المخطوطة الأسطورية، لوحة تكاد تكون ناطقة هي الأخرى و يغدو معها خيال القارئ إلى اللامحدود في التخيل و التأمل و لما لا التأويل و هو ما جعل هذه اللوحة تتمثل أيامي شاخصة، ظاهرة نابضة بالروح و بالحركة هي ما أطلقتُ عليه لوحة (الآلهة تلعب الشطرنج) حتى و إن كان التعبير مبالغاً فيه ، و لو كنت رساما لترجمت اناشيد هوميروس في شكل لوحة على غرار ما فعل أهم رسامي القرون الغابرة و التي خلدت أسماءهم بحروف كأسطورة من ذهب ، لوحة الآلهة تلعب الشطرنج ليست خيالاً أبدا هي بحق الهيئة التي اتخذتها الآلهة في تقديرها لحياة البشر على الأرض، في جلسة على جبل الأولمب حيث الإله زيوس و معه الآلهة الأخرى منشغلة بتحريك أحجار الشطرنج ( البشر) فلم تعد أحجار الشطرنج عندها ، الملك، الملكة، القلعة أو حتى الوزير و الجندي بل آخيل، هيكتور، باريس، أوديسيوس و آخرون...

#رمح يقصم الظهر!!
و لم تكتفِ الآلهة بتدبير شؤون البشر من علٍ بل ينشد هوميروس كيف أن هذه الآلهة تتشاجر فيما بينها ، تتنازع بل و حتى تتقاتل بالأيدي و ترسل الرماح و تقصم ظهر بعض !! ( ...وتثار الخصومة بين الآلهة لموقف فلكان من سكمندر، ويغيظ مارس من مينرفا أنها تؤيِّد فلكان وتحرِّضه على رب النهر المسكين الذي أفزعتْه النيران تأخذه من كل حدَب، فتقدَّم إليها وطفق يقرعها وتقرعه، ويرميها بالمثالب وترميه بها، ثم تناول رمحَه العظيم واستجمع كلَّ قوته، وأرسله يودُّ لو يقضي به على ربة الحكمة الحازمة، ولكن؛ ويل لك يا مارس! لقد ارتدَّ الرمح فلم يستطع إلى درع مينرفا من سبيل؛ وانحنتِ الإلهة المغيظة فأخذت حجرًا من أكبر حجارة الجبل وقذفتْ به مارس فدكَّت عنقه وقصمت ظهرَه وتركتْه على السفح الشاحب لقًى من ألقاء هذه الحرب!).

#الغزل و القطع:
يعتبر( زيوس )في الميثولوجيا اليونانية هو صاحب الأمر و النهي على جميع الآلهة ما عدا ربات الأقدار و هن ثلاث: (كلوتو) الصغيرة تغزل حبل الحياة من خيوط بيضاء و سوداء ، (لاخيستيس) تبرمه فتجعل منه المتين و الواهي و آخرهن (أتروبوس) و هي كبراهن تقوم بقطعه جزءا جزءا بمقص كبير ، فإذا مات شخص فهذا يعني أن ( أتروبوس) قامت بقطع خيطه بمقص كبير، و لا مفر من أقدار ربات الأقدار الثلاث فإذا قضين شيئا فإنهن تقصه في آخر الغزل ، كالتي نقضت غزلها بعد قوة و لهذا حين حاولت ثيتيس أن تهرب من قدر موت إبنها آخيل بأن تقوم بغمره في نهر الخلود نسيت أن تغمر عقب آخيل بالماء و لهذا جرت مقادير الربات بأن يموت آخيل بسهم باريس في حرب طروادة.

#إنقسامات الآلهة:
لم تدُر رحى الحرب بين الإغريق و الطرواديين كما هو معلوم على الأرض فقط بل كانت ساحة الأولمب على جبله ساحةً أخرى لا تقل حرارة ،اندفاعاً و صراعاً كذلك ،لهذا انقسمت الآلهة في هذه الحرب إلى فريقين، فريق يناصر و يساند بل حتى يقاتل في صفوف الطرواديين و آخر مع الإغريق بل حتى قضى بفوز الإغريق على حساب خصومهم ، أكبرهم الإله(زيوس)
انحاز للجانبين خلال المعركة ، لكنه في النهاية مال للاغريق بناء عى طلب والدة اخيل ، بالإضافة إلى( هيرا ) زوجته و ملكة الآلهات اختارت جانب الإغريق و هذا طبيعي كون باريس ابن بريام فضل فينوس عليها ، أثينا (منيرفا) ربّة الحكمة اختارت الإغريق أيضا انتقاما من باريس و غيرهم ، أما من ناصر الطرواديين فأولهم : أفروديت(فينوس) آلهة الحب، انضمت إلى الجانب الطروادي نصرة لباريس ابن بريام ملك طروادة، لانه حكم لها بالتفاحة ثم أبوللو إله الشمس و آريس (مارس) إله الحرب اختار الطرواديين.

#للأكثرِ جمالاً....
إلى جانب حرب طروادة الشهيرة التي دارت رحاها بين البشر و على الأرض، فقد أنشد هوميروس أناشيده عن الآلهة التي كان لها الدور الأبرز في إشعال فتنة هذه الحرب وتأجيج لهيبها بل حتى المشاركة فيها ، بدأً بقصة تفاحة الشقاق الذهبية التي ألقتها آلهة النزاع التي غضبت من كونها لم تستدع لحفل زفاف حورية البحر ثيتيس و الملك بيليوس فألقت بالتفاحة : للأكثر جمالاً ، التي أثارت نزاع و شجار بين الآلهة الثلاث حيرا (هيرا) العظيمة مليكة الأولمب ، مينرفا (أثينا) ربة الحكمة ، و فينوس (أفروديت) ربة الجمال ، ولحل المشكلة أرسلهن كبير الآلهةزيوس إلى الفتى البشري (باريس) ليحكم بينهن ، فقرر هذا الأخير أن يحكم التفاحة لأفروديت (إلهة الحب) التي وعدته بحب هيلين أجمل نساء الأرض ليجلب عليه هذا الحب الخراب لبلاده طروادة حسب تنبآت العرافين الملك بريام.

#أبطال هوميروس :

الأسطورة(آخيل ) الشجاعة و الاندفاع:
كان آخيل ابن( بيليوس) ملك ميرميدون و (ثيتس) الحورية وبحسب الكتابات الإغريقية القديمة، ولكي يصبح من الخالدين (غير الهالكين)، قامت أمه بغمره في مياه نهر ستيكس، إلا أنها وحين غمرته كانت ممسكة بكعبه من الوتر، فكان هذا المكان الوحيد في جسمه الذي لم يغمره الماء، وأصبح ذلك نقطة ضعفه ، حيث تنبأ أحد العرافين للملك وزوجته أن ابنهما سيقتل في معركة طروادة ،حاول بيلوس وزوجته أن يخفيا آخيل، فألبساه ثياب الفتيات، ثم أرسلاه إلى لوكوميدس، ملك جزيرة سيكاروس، ليعيش معه في قصره كإحدى بناته، لكن في النهاية يلتحق آخيل بجيش الإغريق في حرب الطروادين و يقوم بقتل أميرها هكتور يقوده انتقامه لصديقه، فكان آخيل سريع الغضب ولديه رغبةٌ متعطشة للانتقام، أخيل بالنسبة لليونانيين هو رمز الشجاعة ، الاندفاع و الوفاء للاصدقاء و هو أيضا مثال عن تحقق النبوات االعرافيين التي لابد منها لأنها من تقدير الآلهة.

هيكتور إبن بريام ملك طروادة
هو أمير طروادة وقائد جيشها وأهم أبطالها تصدى لهجمات الإغريق طوال عشر سنوات من حصارطروادة، اشتهر بفروسيته وحنكته وشجاعته ومهارته بترويض الخيول وهو الابن المفضل للملك بريام ملك طروادة وولي عهده وأمه هي هيكوبا و أخ الأمير بارس الذي تسبب بالحرب المدمرة، يعتبر هيكتور أول العظماء التسعة في التاريخ اليوناني القديم ليس فقط بسبب شجاعته الحربية ولكن أيضًا بسبب طبيعته النبيلة حيث اشتهر بنبل أخلاقه، ينشد لنا هوميروس من خلال معارك طروادة كيف تقوم الآلهة في العديد من المرات بإنقاذ هيكتور من أيدي آخيل و هو ما تسبب في استمرار هذه الحرب مدة عشر سنين كاملة كان لتدخل الآلهة يدٌ فيها ،لكنها و كما تشاء مقادير الآلهة تمكن آخيل في النهاية من خصمه هيكتور فيقتله و يأخذ جثته انتقاما لصديقه المغدور.

(أوديسيوس ) بطل الاوديسة
هو ملك إيثاكا الأسطوري، ترك بلده كي يكون من قادة حرب طروادة وصاحب فكرة الحصان الذي بواسطته انهزم الطرواديون ، كان أوديسيوس ابن لارتيس وأنتكليا، وزوج بينيلوبي، ووالد تليماخوس (تليماك) اشتهر بذكائه الفكري و مكره، وتعدد جوانبه وبالتالي عُرف بلقب أوديسيوس الماكر (باليونانية: «الذكاء الماكر» وهو مشهور جدًا بعودته إلى وطنه، التي استغرقته عشر سنوات مليئة بالأحداث بعد حرب طروادة التي استمرت لعقد من الزمن، يأخذنا هوميروس في الاوديسة على نفس نسق الإلياذة، في رحلة عودة أوديسيوس إلى مملكته إيثاكا، خلال الرحلة يجوب أوديسيوس البحار و الجزر و يلتقي بالعملاقة و الهامة(دابة كبيرة) يساعده ملوك و أصدقاء و تكون دائما ربة الحكمة بجانبه حتى يعود إلى زوجته و ابنه و مملكته، نسجت عدة حكايا و أساطير على منوال رحلة أوديسيوس مثل حكايا السندباد البحري و ألف ليلة وليلة كيف لا و الأساطير هي تراث عالمي و إنساني و لابد أن تعيش و يننتشر .

#نساء هوميروس
تزخر الإلياذة و الاوديسة بشخصيات نسائية أنثوية كثيرة سواء كانت آلهة أو من البشر لذلك سأركز على الجانب البشري الذي يحمل دلالات و رموز أكثر بينما الآلهة تظهر غاياتها و وظيفتها عيانا ، ثلاث محاور مّثلها ظهور المرأة في ملحمتي هوميروس :الحب و الفتنة ، الخيانة و الوفاء تأرجحت هذه الرموز و ظهرت تباعاً في أناشيد هوميروس لكنه آثر أن ينتصر الوفاء في آخر المطاف:

( هيلين ) الحب و الفتنة
هي أجمل نساء الأرض قاطبة خطب ودها جميع ملوك الإغريق وتسابقو للفوز بقلبها إلى أن اختارت (منيلاوس) زوجا لها ولكنها وقعت في غرام (باريس) ابن بريام ملك طروادة، بسبب سحر (فينوس إلهة الجمال عند الإغريق) عندما كان في ضيافة زوجها واختارت الفرار معه إلى طروادة متسببة باندلاع حرب لمدة عشرة سنوات انتهت بسقوط طروادةومقتل ملكها بريام وأميرها هكتور ، تمثل هيلين الحب و الجمال المنشود و المرغوب من طرف الكل لكنه مقترن بالفتنة التي من أجلها تندلع نيران الحروب ، يغذيها الطمع بالفوز و الاستحواذ على الملك و السلطة.

(كلتمنسترا ) الخيانة
هي زوجة أجاممنون ( أخو منيلاوس الذي جعله قائدا في حربه ضد الطرواديين) حيث تقوم وعشيقها إيجسثوس بقتله بعد عودته منتصرا ً من حرب طروادة حيث تقول الأسطورة أنه و قبل ذهابه إلى حرب طروادة قدم ابنته قربانا للالهه فلذلك حملت زوجته له ضغينة و نفذت وعيدها عندما عاد أجاممنون فقتله عشيقها ، لهذا فهي ترمز إلى الخيانة من طرف أقرب الناس و عدم الوثوق في أي كان مع أخذ الحذر و الحيطة من المصائب الزمان.

(بينيلوبي) الوفاء
أو بينيلوب في أوديسة هوميروس هي زوجة (أوديسيوس) بطل الاوديسة، الوفية التي ظلت ترفض الخاطبين الذين تقدموا لها طوال غيبته في رحلته الطويلة حتى عاد إليها في النهاية ، كان لبينيلوبي ابن وحيد من أوديسيوس هو تليماك (تليماخوس) ، الذي ولد قبيل استدعاء أوديسيوس للمشاركة في حرب طروادة مباشرة، ترمز بينيلوب للوفاء و الأمل و لهذا ارتبط اسم بينيلوبي في التقاليد الأدبية بالوفاء للزوج.

#نجوى

[Realini Ionescu · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Odyssey by Homer is as high as 21st on The Greatest Books of All Time site, which uses an alleged powerful algorithm, albeit it does not really match my top list, maybe it is up your alley, it is also part of The Bokklubben World Library (Norwegian: Verdensbiblioteket) Best 100 Books of All Time – you can find reviews on hundreds of books from these and other lists on my blog, which I am trying to promote here, silly influencer that I am, with 30 clicks per day https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/20...






10 out of 10 considering the magnitude, importance and everything else, though on a personal basis, this is just 8 of 10



There is a silly reason to ‘review’ this magnum opus again – not that it will be much of a note, just like the first one https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/20... - no, actually there are two



- First, our Ulysees has entered port in triumph last night

- Second, Christopher Nolan has been filming this, or at least preparing for it

There will certainly be a take on the entered (probably) Nolan chef d’oeuvre, when that is in theaters – my daughter, Hannah, has taken me to see Oppenheimer https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/20... after a long absence from a cinema



The Odyssey looks at the long journey that Odysseus aka Ulysses, the hero of the story, takes after they conquer Troy – that is told in the Iliad, you know, what with the Trojan Horse ruse and all – before he reaches home



There is a marvelous book, one of my favorites, Contempt https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/20... by Alberto Moravia, and you find there that Ulysses was in fact not all that interested in getting back to Penelope and beloved Ithaca



- A question of the Coolidge Effect?



President Coolidge was visiting this farm with his wife, the latter saw a very active rooster, and asked how many times per day it would jump on the hen, and the answer something formidable, I forgot, maybe fifty?

So, the first lady says ‘tell that to the president’, who, when he was told, asked if it was always the same hen, and when he got the answer ‘it is always a different one’, he instructed this information to be shared with his spouse



- Ergo, The Coolidge Effect



I thought maybe there is also a syndrome, for some time I have been wondering if I do not have it – Harvard Professor https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/20... has something to say

his class was the most popular in the history of Harvard, it was positive psychology, and you can watch it for free on YouTube, presumably, they want to have it shared there, and he talked about this phenomenon



- Also called The Honeymoon Effect

One could be with Hale Berry, one of the most spectacular human beings, and still, after some years, a change, even if it is a serious drop in standard, is desired, there is also The Lasagna Effect, or what Stefan Klein https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/20... also explains it in his book



Now for my standard closing of the note with a question, and invitation – maybe you have a good idea on how we could make more than a million dollars with this https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/20... – as it is, this is a unique technique, which we could promote, sell, open the Oscars show with or something and then make lots of money together, if you have the how, I have the product, I just do not know how to get the befits from it, other than the exercise per se



There is also the small matter of working for AT&T – this huge company asked me to be its Representative for Romania and Bulgaria, on the Calling Card side, which meant sailing into the Black Sea wo meet the US Navy ships, travelling to Sofia, a lot of activity, using my mother’s two bedrooms flat as office and warehouse, all for the grand total of $250, raised after a lot of persuasion to the staggering $400…with retirement ahead, there are no benefits, nothing…it is a longer story, but if you can help get the mastodont to pay some dues, or have an idea how it can happen, let me know



As for my role in the Revolution that killed Ceausescu, a smaller Mao, there it is http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/r...



Some favorite quotes from To The Hermitage and other works



‘Fiction is infinitely preferable to real life...As long as you avoid the books of Kafka or Beckett, the everlasting plot of fiction has fewer futile experiences than the careless plot of reality...Fiction's people are fuller, deeper, cleverer, more moving than those in real life…Its actions are more intricate, illuminating, noble, profound…There are many more dramas, climaxes, romantic fulfillment, twists, turns, gratified resolutions…Unlike reality, all of this you can experience without leaving the house or even getting out of bed…What's more, books are a form of intelligent human greatness, as stories are a higher order of sense…As random life is to destiny, so stories are to great authors, who provided us with some of the highest pleasures and the most wonderful mystifications we can find…Few stories are greater than Anna Karenina, that wise epic by an often foolish author…’

[Osama Abdel Qader · Rating 1 out of 5]

@مجدي كامل المنياوي صاحب هذا الكتاب سارق رسمي...
ينسخ عن النت والمنتديات وويكيبيديا بالحرف...
طبعا خلال 5 سنوات طبع في دار الكوبي-بيست العربي-القاهرة...وأعني ما يسمى دار الكتاب العربي ما يقارب المائة كتاب...بحسبة بسيطة فإنه يؤلف كتاب كل 18 يوم و 6 ساعات....
طبعا هذا لا يعقل ولا يمر إلا على الأغبياء...
فهو وفريقه مجرد مرتزقة كتب لا يقرأون حتى ما ينسخون من ويكيبيديا والمنتديات..فتجدها بنفس الأخطاء المطبعية....
في معرض الكتاب في الشارقة 2013 وجدت لهم قسم كبير...من الواضح أنهم يحسنون صنعا من ناحية البزنيس....وتعرفت على الشخص الموجود وقال أنه ابن صاحب الدار....وأفرغت له ما في جعبتي من أنهم مجرد دار نشر تخدع القراء وتستغفلهم ...وقلت له أن مجدي كامل لا يسوى 5 قروش في عالم التأليف...فقال لي أن هذا غريب ﻷن الكتب تدقق مرتين قبل الطباعة...وانه يدفع فلوس جيدا لمجدي كامل ﻷن "سعره غالي"....

فقط اقرأوا ماذا يقول عنكم القراء في موقع goodreads...
أنتم مجرد ##### طباعين....
ووعدته أن أحضر له كتاب "سقوط دولة الفيزا كارد" للسارق المدعو مجدي كامل حتى يرى بنفسه الكوبي بيست لصفحات بالعشرات من ويكيبيديا ومنتديات ومواقع إخبارية مع تكرارات مخزية لصفحات كاملة فهم لا يكلفون نفسهم قراءة ما ينسخون.....
لكل زمان مرتزقته وتجاره ..

[Elsa K · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 I only read "The Odyssey" this time through. I haven't read it since high school and have been wanting to read it again. It is obviously well written and a classic. The 'legend/epic' style is different from what I normally read, but I enjoyed it.

As a female though I couldn't help but get annoyed with Odysseus sleeping with goddesses etc. while Penelope is pining away for him. Although, I also got annoyed at Penelope's inability to send the suitors away, so maybe they were meant for each other? Some of the fighting scenes got too gruesome for me. Also, why is Athena so committed to Odysseus?

I started reading "Anna Karenina" in the middle of it and kind of had to force myself to finish this one. Still an enjoyable read that everyone should be familiar with.