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.