The Epic of Gilgamesh (Penguin Epics) [Mass Market Paperback]

Anonymous (Author)

Book Description

Series: Penguin Epics | Publication Date: December 26, 2006

A great king, strong as the stars in Heaven. Enkidu, a wild and mighty hero, is created by the gods to challenge the arrogant King Gilgamesh. But instead of killing each other, the two become friends. Travelling together to the Cedar Forest, they fight and slay the evil monster Humbaba. But when Enkidu is killed, his death haunts and breaks the mighty Gilgamesh. Terrified of mortality, he resolves to find the secret of eternal life...

@UrukRockCity All the ladies want to get it on now that I’ve slain the demon. But I must decline. I’m a clean man these days.

I just can’t win with women. Before, nailing all the ladies was bad. Now I refuse to seduce, and the Gods send a giant bull to kill me?

From Twitterature: The World's Greatest Books in Twenty Tweets or Less

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics); 1 edition (December 26, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0141026286
• ISBN-13: 978-0141026282
• Product Dimensions: 4.4 x 0.2 x 7.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #330,500 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #73 in Books > History > Ancient > Assyria, Babylonia & Sumer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Comments are for different edition, September 28, 2008

By 

Daniel - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Epic of Gilgamesh (Penguin Epics) (Mass Market Paperback)

Note that the other comments here (both professional and consumer) are for the Andrew George version of "The Epic of Gilgamesh." Amazon does note this above with a disclaimer stating that the "comments are for an out of print or unavailable edition." But you might miss if you don't read carefully. The edition that I received is a translation by N.K. Sandars. There is a brief half page introductory note, but nothing else in the way of commentary, notes, or references. If you are looking for an annotated version, you must buy a different edition. However, if you are just looking for a translation of the story and are able to do your own research, then this is the edition for you. The four stars are for the work itself and its place in history.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Accessible Translation, October 22, 2009

By 

over and under - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Epic of Gilgamesh (Penguin Epics) (Mass Market Paperback)

First off, this is the N.K. Sanders translation, the one widely used in textbooks (particularly Prentice Hall) for almost thirty years. And there's a reason why it has endured for so long.

This translation is accessible to all levels of students. The language is easily negotiated without losing the overall intent of the original Sumerian. Not that I actually read cuneiform, but I've read enough translations of Gilgamesh, not to mention critical writing on the subject, to know what a good translation sounds like.

Unless you've read anything in ancient Sanskrit, this will most likely be the oldest thing you will ever read, and that includes the Old Testament. In fact, once you consume this powerful epic, you'll probably know where the Hebrew flood story came from, not to mention the inspiration for the Lazarus tale, and the snake whose actions deny key characters immortality.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome edition, February 11, 2010

By 

Scott Carpenter - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Epic of Gilgamesh (Penguin Epics) (Mass Market Paperback)

Used this edition with High School students. Not only was this accessible for them, but they loved it. It inspired all sorts of amazing conversations. GET IT and READ IT.