This edition brings the poem’s heat and gravity into plain, modern speech without sanding off its bite. The translation keeps the focus on human choices inside a war that feels both immediate and inevitable. Names and epithets are handled cleanly, the gods show up with purpose, and the battle scenes are readable even if you usually glaze over at armor lists. I liked how the momentum carries from quarrel to consequence to grief, while still leaving space for quiet moments that remind you these are people with families, pride, and limits.

On the page, the lines move quickly. Heiden favors clarity over ornament, which helps the story breathe for new readers and still gives long-time Homer fans fresh angles. Repeated motifs are present but not heavy, similes land without stalling the scene, and speeches sound like strong, conflicted voices rather than museum pieces. The translation choices make it easy to track who is speaking and why it matters. If you want to actually read The Iliad rather than study it, this gets you there.

I rated this version four stars because it balances faithfulness and access in a way that works for real readers. The pacing holds, the emotional core is intact, and several passages linger after you close the book. I would hand this to anyone curious about epic poetry who wants power and clarity in the same package.

Loooove the language of this with the blend between dramatic, old-fashioned speech and snarky insults (the gods just call each other bitches and I giggle every time). I enjoy the constant swap between mortals and gods and how each group influences/controls the other. I did find myself less invested in the Greeks' and Trojans' struggles than the gods fighting, but probably because the gods were more dramatic (I do like that the mortals were better behaved than them - except Achilles, what's wrong with that man).

A few parts dragged but overall a very engaging read! What a fun translation to make this story feel both old and new

This translation of the Iliad offers a read with clarity. The language seems simple and straightforward. I think that readers who are afraid of taking on this classic will feel comfortable starting this version.

This is a good translation. However, I personally prefer the one by Emily Wilson.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bruce Heiden-Palmetto for this title. All opinions are my own.

My kids are deep into Percy Jackson right now, which had me thinking about how little I know about Ancient Greece--either the myths or the history. I read The Iliad in high school and vaguely remembered liking it, so I decided to try it again with this version. I love how fresh yet poetic the language is. War never really changes, does it? It never stops being horrible.

Really enjoyed this translation of the Iliad. It's hard to compare to others because its been so long, but I thought this one was smooth and easy to read, very fun. Will keep reading new translations

Bruce Heiden’s creative translation of The Iliad offers a fresh and engaging way to experience one of the oldest and most influential stories ever told. While the core of Homer’s epic—rage, honor, fate, and the devastating cost of war—remains intact, Heiden’s approach makes the text far more accessible to modern readers without stripping it of its emotional weight.

This version excels in its clarity and pacing. The language feels purposeful and vivid, allowing the intensity of Achilles’ anger, Hector’s humanity, and the relentless pull of destiny to shine through. Battles feel visceral, but what stands out most is how much attention is given to the inner lives of the characters—their pride, grief, fear, and sense of duty. These moments ground the epic and make it feel surprisingly personal for a story rooted in myth.

That said, readers looking for a strictly academic or literal translation may find this interpretation more stylized than expected. Heiden’s creative choices occasionally prioritize emotional resonance over formal structure, which may not appeal to purists. However, for those new to The Iliad or returning to it after struggling with denser translations, this version is a strong entry point.

Overall, this creative translation succeeds in making The Iliad feel alive, urgent, and relevant. It honors the spirit of Homer’s epic while inviting a wider audience to appreciate its timeless exploration of heroism, loss, and the brutal reality of war.

This was such a fun iteration of a classic! Heiden perfectly captures the essence of the original work and translates it to fit a modern palate. I can easily see this translation being used for classroom study.

A classic! I’ve read this before and I thought this translation was excellent. I really enjoyed it, excited for people to experience the Iliad like this.

The Iliad by Homer, Emily Wilson (translation) - 5⭐ (11/15/2025 - 12/21/2025)
The Iliad by Homer, Bruce Heiden (translation) - 4⭐ ( 2/4/2026 - 3/5/2026)

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I know I've had a reread on The Iliad (Emily Wilson Translation, a 5⭐️ read) last December, and I'm really looking forward to reading Robrt Fagles' translation on this Epic considering they're highly recommended. However, I've seen this one on Netgalley and was curious about it and thought, why not this?

This review would solely be on the translation itself and what I think and felt on its readability overall and a little bit on the story.

I would say the language on this was very modern compared to Wilson's, but that doesn't mean it's not poetic. It is still poetic. This offers more clarity and comfort, especially if it's your first time reading this. Getting into this translation would probably be very easy since it did not just offer modernity, clarity, and comfort but also flows seamlessly.

I might have just felt a little ick on the language, especially during at times, and experienced some whiplash, to be honest, on the use of the S-word here and B- word that really took me off a little. I did not remember this on Wilson's, but I could be wrong (I easily forget, so 🙈). Then again, the word is also present on Robert Fagles' The Odyssey.

What I liked the most was probably the trashing of Agamemnon and Paris that felt really more insulting here. I can only say DESERVED.

The overall performance of this translation is very engaging and true to its purpose. I really had a good time on this despite some little ick. I would say I recommend this for the first-time reader on The Iliad. The same goes for Emily Wilson's, which I preferred more than this.

For this translation, I would give this a 4⭐. Thank you, Bruce Heiden and Palmetto, for the review copy.

Thank you for the opportunity to read early and provide a review! It's always great to read another translation of a classic that I've read many times, and I found this one immersive and enjoyable.

The Iliad is such a famous book, referenced frequently in modern media.
I enjoyed reading a more accessible translation of the original text.
Thank you Net galley for the ARC.

Returning to The Iliad by Homer as an adult feels a bit like rewatching a movie you only half-understood the first time but now the stakes hit harder, the characters feel sharper, and the drama lands with surprising emotional weight.

On my first read in high school, I remember the broad strokes: Achilles is angry, Hector is noble, everyone is fighting, and the gods are…messy. It felt important, but more something to study than to feel. Coming back to it now, the humanity is what stood out most.

This isn’t just an epic about war; it’s an epic about ego, grief, and the fragile, almost inconvenient tenderness that exists even in the middle of brutality. Achilles’ rage reads less like heroic fury and more like something deeply personal and destructive. And Hector—honestly, Hector might be the emotional core of the entire poem. His sense of duty, especially in contrast to Achilles’ pride, makes his storyline quietly devastating.

This was a wonderful new translation. What surprised me most on this reread was how modern it feels. The pettiness of the gods, the pride of leaders, the cost of unchecked anger, all feel painfully recognizable. There’s also a rhythm to the storytelling that becomes easier to appreciate with time; what once felt repetitive now feels intentional and natural, like the text is insisting you sit with each moment.

This time around, I found The Iliad wasn’t just “great” in the academic sense, but it was gripping, emotional, and unexpectedly intimate. Definitely one of those rare classics that actually deepens with age (yours, not just its own). Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity for this re-read.