The Iliad

A little about the book

The Iliad follows the consequences of Achilles' anger during a short part of the Trojan War, bringing battle into contact with grief, honour and obligation.

The poem gives people on both sides room to speak and grieve. That breadth makes the consequences of Achilles' anger easier to see beyond the fortunes of a single warrior or battle.

Is it for you?

You’ll enjoy it if you like

• epic poetry
• speeches that change the course of events
• war stories attentive to grief

Read one book at a time and check the translator listed in the source. The poem's repeated speeches and descriptions help hold the large cast together.

Things You May Not Know About The Iliad

• The poem opens with anger. Achilles' quarrel is the subject announced at the start.
• It covers a portion of the war. The action is concentrated near its end and closes before the fall of Troy.
• The source is an English translation. The translator identified on the edition matters for the style of the verse.

About this edition

Read the Project Gutenberg source record for edition details. The Freebookia PDF has 562 pages. The EPUB adjusts to your reading settings.