Iliad

Homer's Iliad tells the story of Achilles. It takes place in year ten of the Trojan War. The war starts after Paris judges a contest. He is a prince of Troy. Three goddesses take part in the contest. His prize is Helen, whose Greek husband is Menelaos. Paris takes her from him. The Greeks sail to Troy and besiege the city.

Achilles is the Greeks' greatest warrior. He feels his commander, Agamemnon, has denied him due respect. He leaves the fight, which brings the Greeks disaster. It brings him grief, too. This epic poem explores war, anger, loss and love. It dates back more than 2,700 years. It has shaped Western writing, art and classical music.

This edition is for readers of classic works. Andrew Lang, Walter Leaf and Ernest Myers translated the poem. They tell it in prose, rather than verse. Natalie Haynes wrote the introduction. She is a writer and a classics scholar. The book is part of the Macmillan Collector's Library. It has a cloth cover and fits in a pocket. Its pages have gold edges. A ribbon marks your place.