The Iliad: A Commentary: Volume 4, Books 13-16 [Paperback]

Richard Janko (Editor), G. S. Kirk (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521281741 | ISBN-13: 978-0521281744 | Publication Date: January 31, 1992

This, the fourth volume in the six-volume Commentary on the Iliad being prepared under the General Editorship of Professor G. S. Kirk, covers Books 13-16, including the Battle for the Ships, the Deception of Zeus and the Death of Patroklos. Three introductory essays discuss the role of Homer's gods in his poetry; the origins and development of the epic diction; and the transmission of the text, from the bard's lips to our own manuscripts. It is now widely recognized that the first masterpiece of Western literature is an oral poem; Professor Janko's detailed commentary aims to show how this recognition can clarify many linguistic and textual problems, entailing a radical reassessment of the work of Homer's Alexandrian editors. The commentary also explores the poet's subtle creativity in adapting traditional materials, whether formulae, typical scenes, mythology, or imagery, so as best to move, inspire, and entertain his audience, ancient and modern alike. Discussion of the poem's literary qualities and structure is, where possible, kept separate from that of more technical matters.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...extraordinary new study of Books 13-16....Janko clearly knows the Iliad (and, indeed, all early Greek poetry) inside and out, and has one interesting and insightful thing after another to say about it. This is thus an extremely important book...." S. Douglas Olson, Bryn Mawr Classical Review

Book Description

The first volume of a projected six-volume commentary on Homer's Iliad. Four introductory chapters, dealing in particular with rhythm and formular techniques, are followed by the detailed commentary. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 488 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (January 31, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521281741
• ISBN-13: 978-0521281744
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #689,105 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic scholarly commentary, November 24, 2010

By 

K. Schell (Boston) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Iliad: A Commentary: Volume 1, Books 1-4 (Hardcover)

This six-volume commentary on the Iliad is fantastic and indispensable. The other reviewer, Markos, has completely missed the point; this is not a commentary intended for first-time readers of Homer (Cambridge Green and Yellow commentaries tend more in that direction) nor for those reading the epic in translation. Instead, it is an introduction to many topics of scholarly debate that surround the poem, keyed to the parts of the text where that information is most relevant.
While I am disappointed that the book is not currently available on Amazon, it is a reference work and, as such, is probably mostly bought only by libraries. It is very well done, however, and should not be missed by any serious scholars of the Classics.

4 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars too wordy, not enough focus on the Greek, August 2, 2009

By 

Markos (Colorado) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Iliad: A Commentary: Volume 1, Books 1-4 (Paperback)

I was disappointed. A good commentary needs to be complete but cannot be too wordy. Get to the point and allow us to get back to reading the text. Kirk's commentary is obviously meant for people who read Homer in the Greek, but he does not devote enough attention to the Greek text. Instead he sort of rambles on about the plot, what he things speakers have in mind, stylistic considerations that are not clear. Here's an example. You tell me if (a) this helps you understand the Iliad any better (b) you even know what the heck Kirk is talking about (b) "Until now the speech has been undramatic and routinely cumulative in expression, with conventional verse-structure and moderate enjambment. The present graphic and hypothetical calculation, set out in a single long and progressively-enjambed sentence and brought to an epigrammatic climax in 128, noticeably elevates the style." Okay. Difficult Greek cruxes are often ignored by Kirk. Older commentaries like Anthon's (published in 1847!) and Draper's marvelous recent book manage to be both more consise AND give you more helpful information. Unfortunatley, these books do not cover the entire Iliad. A good, complete, detailed modern commentary on the Iliad has yet to be written. This book certainly is not that.