Why Homer Matters
by
Adam Nicolson
Order:
USA
Can
Picador, 2015 (2014)
Hardcover, Paperback, CD
Reviewed by Bob Walch
I
f your first reaction upon seeing this title is – '
I didn't think Homer did matter!
' – stop reading: this book probably isn't for you! On the other hand, if you are familiar with the Greek writer and have perhaps read,
The Odyssesy
and/or
The Iliad
, what Adam Nicolson has to say make be of interest.
T
his isn't the type of book one hurries through. Admittedly it will take some time and demand the reader have some knowledge of Homer and his work. But, that being said, this can be a very rewarding experience that will open up new avenues of thought when considering the two Homeric poems that were once required reading in college liberal arts programs.
I
llustrated with photos and maps, this book is not only very informative but it also explains why Homer is still relevant reading. Sadly, not as many students today are exposed to Homer's classic narrative poems and that's a shame given that the Greek writer provides a foundation for not only those men and women of letters who follow him but also Western literature itself.
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