--- product_id: 35130278 title: "The Iliad: A New Translation by Caroline Alexander" price: "R1246" currency: ZAR in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/35130278-the-iliad-a-new-translation-by-caroline-alexander store_origin: ZA region: South Africa --- # The Iliad: A New Translation by Caroline Alexander **Price:** R1246 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Iliad: A New Translation by Caroline Alexander - **How much does it cost?** R1246 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.za](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/35130278-the-iliad-a-new-translation-by-caroline-alexander) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description With her virtuoso translation, classicist and bestselling author Caroline Alexander brings to life Homer’s timeless heroic tale of the Trojan War. Composed around 730 B.C., Homer’s Iliad recounts the events of a few momentous weeks in the protracted ten-year military war between the invading Achaeans, or Greeks, and the Trojans in their besieged city of Ilion. From the explosive confrontation between Achilles, the greatest warrior at Troy, and Agamemnon, the inept leader of the Greeks, through to its tragic conclusion, this foundational work of ancient Greek literature explores the abiding, blighting facts of war. Soldier and civilian, victor and vanquished, hero and coward, men, women, young, old― The Iliad evokes in poignant, searing detail the fate of every life ravaged by the Battle of Troy. And, as told by Homer, this ancient epic of a particular Bronze Age conflict becomes a sublime and sweeping evocation of the destruction of war throughout the ages. Carved close to the original Greek, acclaimed classicist Caroline Alexander’s new English translation is swift and lean, with the driving cadence of its source―a Homeric epic in scale and yet devastating in its precision and power. This essential translation of the foundational ancient epic offers: A New Translation: Experience the Trojan War through the eyes of acclaimed classicist Caroline Alexander, whose swift and lean prose is carved close to the original Homeric Greek. The Wrath of Achilles: Witness the explosive confrontation between the godlike warrior Achilles and the Greek leader Agamemnon―a bitter feud that changes the course of the war. Greek Mythology: Enter a world of gods and mortals, where the fates of soldiers, civilians, victors, and vanquished are tangled in a devastating conflict. Ancient Poetry: Discover the power of Homer's enduring Bronze Age masterpiece, a sublime and sweeping evocation of the destruction of war that resonates through the ages. Review: A fresh, exciting translation of a classic tale. - One of the most ancient stories in the world, The Iliad as recounted by Homer is an epic in the truest sense of the word. It is a story that has been told, and retold, for thousands of years. Dozens, possibly hundreds, have tried their hand and tested their skill at translating the poem from its original Greek over the years. I was a teenager when I first read Fagle's classic translation, often considered the modern standard for the tale. It is hard not to get swept away by the grandeur and the scale of it, the tragedy of men and gods. "Wrath--sing, goddess, of the ruinous wrath of Peleus' son Achilles..." So begins the poem as translated and retold by Caroline Alexander. Here, after millennia, Alexander is not choosing to reinvent the wheel but refine it, and she does so remarkably. She seems to have found a way to streamline the rhythm of the poem, shaping and refining its cadence. Modern readers are wont to remember The Iliad was originally intended to be an oral story, spoken aloud, and I implore readers to try it as they make their way through. It's truly remarkable, the way it almost seems to flow and carry itself forward. Inflection and emotion come alive in that way and, for a moment, one could easily find themselves swept away by the tale of gods and heroes. It's a wondrous experience for those who might be experiencing The Iliad for the first time, as well as those--like myself--who have read it a few times, by a few different translators. In sum, Caroline Alexander has done a remarkable thing and made the ancient new. The Iliad is, and always has been, a living story but in this new edition it feels reinvigorated and exciting and fresh. I absolutely cannot recommend it enough. Review: and the contents of corresponding lines in the two translations match pretty closely in places I chose at random - Understand that I know no Greek, so I cannot comment on the accuracy of the translation. I found this an enjoyable read. In comparison to the other translations I have read, it seems most similar to Lattimore, which is widely thought to be quite accurate. Alexander is, I think, easier to read, although this may just reflect the age of Lattimore's translation: more than 60 years old. Both of them attempt to match the original Greek line-by-line, and the contents of corresponding lines in the two translations match pretty closely in places I chose at random. I have also read the Fitzgerald and Fagles translations. Fitzgerald seems to be the most free of the translations, which means that the text does not match up line-by-line with Lattimore or Alexander, but sometimes is the clearest in conveying what is going on. I do not have Fagles in hand, but when I read it I felt it had a good deal of Fitzgerald's flexibility with an increased amount of Lattimore's accuracy with respect to the Greek. So in summary (and remember: no Greek), I think the spectrum from most accurate to most readable goes Lattimore, Alexander, Fagles, Fitzgerald. Sample them all--your local library should have several if not all--then buy and read the one you like best. If you are like me, you will then buy and read another translation, too. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #16,162 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #1 in Haiku & Japanese Poetry #40 in Ancient & Classical Poetry #52 in Epic Poetry (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,063 Reviews | ## Images ![The Iliad: A New Translation by Caroline Alexander - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41gWTweLm9L.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A fresh, exciting translation of a classic tale. *by M***S on May 17, 2018* One of the most ancient stories in the world, The Iliad as recounted by Homer is an epic in the truest sense of the word. It is a story that has been told, and retold, for thousands of years. Dozens, possibly hundreds, have tried their hand and tested their skill at translating the poem from its original Greek over the years. I was a teenager when I first read Fagle's classic translation, often considered the modern standard for the tale. It is hard not to get swept away by the grandeur and the scale of it, the tragedy of men and gods. "Wrath--sing, goddess, of the ruinous wrath of Peleus' son Achilles..." So begins the poem as translated and retold by Caroline Alexander. Here, after millennia, Alexander is not choosing to reinvent the wheel but refine it, and she does so remarkably. She seems to have found a way to streamline the rhythm of the poem, shaping and refining its cadence. Modern readers are wont to remember The Iliad was originally intended to be an oral story, spoken aloud, and I implore readers to try it as they make their way through. It's truly remarkable, the way it almost seems to flow and carry itself forward. Inflection and emotion come alive in that way and, for a moment, one could easily find themselves swept away by the tale of gods and heroes. It's a wondrous experience for those who might be experiencing The Iliad for the first time, as well as those--like myself--who have read it a few times, by a few different translators. In sum, Caroline Alexander has done a remarkable thing and made the ancient new. The Iliad is, and always has been, a living story but in this new edition it feels reinvigorated and exciting and fresh. I absolutely cannot recommend it enough. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and the contents of corresponding lines in the two translations match pretty closely in places I chose at random *by J***D on September 7, 2016* Understand that I know no Greek, so I cannot comment on the accuracy of the translation. I found this an enjoyable read. In comparison to the other translations I have read, it seems most similar to Lattimore, which is widely thought to be quite accurate. Alexander is, I think, easier to read, although this may just reflect the age of Lattimore's translation: more than 60 years old. Both of them attempt to match the original Greek line-by-line, and the contents of corresponding lines in the two translations match pretty closely in places I chose at random. I have also read the Fitzgerald and Fagles translations. Fitzgerald seems to be the most free of the translations, which means that the text does not match up line-by-line with Lattimore or Alexander, but sometimes is the clearest in conveying what is going on. I do not have Fagles in hand, but when I read it I felt it had a good deal of Fitzgerald's flexibility with an increased amount of Lattimore's accuracy with respect to the Greek. So in summary (and remember: no Greek), I think the spectrum from most accurate to most readable goes Lattimore, Alexander, Fagles, Fitzgerald. Sample them all--your local library should have several if not all--then buy and read the one you like best. If you are like me, you will then buy and read another translation, too. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good translation! I recommend *by T***S on May 24, 2026* A good translation. Flows very well!. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/35130278-the-iliad-a-new-translation-by-caroline-alexander](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/35130278-the-iliad-a-new-translation-by-caroline-alexander) --- *Product available on Desertcart South Africa* *Store origin: ZA* *Last updated: 2026-08-14*