Homer : A Very Short Introduction

The Iliad and the Odyssey are two of the most influential works of world literature, yet their author remains a mystery: 'the greatest poet that ever lived' may never have lived at all. Even in the 6th century BCE Homer was a figure of myth, and today the debate continues about who composed these poems, how, and why.

Analysing the main literacy, historical, cultural, and archaeological issues at the heart of the Iliad and the Odyssey, Barbara Graziosi also traces the ways in which these epic tales have inspired artists, writers, philosophers, and musicians throughout the centuries. She thus illuminates the enduring appeal of Homer and his iconic works today.

In this Very Short Introduction Barbara Graziosi considers Homer's famous works, and their impact on readers throughout the centuries. She shows how the Iliad and the Odyssey benefit from a tradition of reading that spans well over two millennia, stemming from ancient scholars at the library of Alexandria, in the third and second centuries BCE, who wrote some of the first commentaries on the Homeric epics. Summaries of these scholars' notes made their way into the margins of Byzantine manuscripts; from Byzantium the annotated manuscripts travelled to Italy; and the ancient notes finally appeared in the first printed editions of Homer, eventually influencing our interpretation of Homer's work today.

ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable. This book was previously published in hardback as Homer.