The selections have been made with an eye toward keeping the major characters, events, and themes in clear focus.

“A good idea—its utility far outweighs qualms purists have about students not reading every last item in the catalogue of ships. The translation is vigorous and readable.”
—Andrew Ford, Princeton University

”Not only does one get an excellent translation of both Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey under one cover, but the selections included are infinitely better and longer than what one normally gets in anthologies of Greek literature. For courses in which entire texts cannot be used, this is by far the best choice available today.”
—Kostas Myrsiades, Westchester University

“A fine poetic translation that today’s students can understand. The selections are very well chosen for a course in which time limitations prevent reading the whole of either epic.”
—Lillian Doherty, University of Maryland

TABLE OF CONTENTS for The Essential Homer:

ILIAD
I complete; II abridged; III complete; IV abridged; V abridged; VI abridged; VII omitted; VIII abridged; IX abridged; X omitted; XI abridged; XII abridged; XIII abridged; XIV abridged; XV abridged; XVI abridged; XVII omitted ; XVIII abridged; XIX abridged; XX abridged; XXI abridged; XXII complete; XXIII abridged; XXIV abridged.

ODYSSEY
I complete; II omitted; III omitted; IV abridged; V complete; VI complete; VII omitted; VIII abridged; IX complete; X complete; XI complete; XII complete; XIII abridged; XIV omitted; XV omitted; XVI abridged; XVII abridged; XVIII abridged; XIX complete; XX omitted; XXI complete; XXII complete; XXIII abridged; XXIV complete.