The Iliad

The Iliad (1997) by Homer
The Softback Preview
ISBN: None (yes, it’s that rare breed of book that dodged the barcode era, striding onto your shelf like a hero without a helmet).
Condition: Very Good (which, at Crappy Old Books, means it’s been treated with a level of respect Achilles himself never showed Hector).

The Iliad is the ur-text of Western literature, the original war epic, the blockbuster that’s been running for nearly three millennia without a sequel (unless you count the Odyssey, which is basically “same cast, different travel arrangements”). Homer gives us gods squabbling like spoiled aristocrats, heroes sulking in tents, armies clashing in technicolour fury, and the occasional deeply awkward divine intervention.

Here you’ll find:

• Achilles, the moody prima donna of the battlefield, whose anger makes modern pop divas look positively serene.

• Hector, noble defender of Troy, destined for a rough day at the office.

• The gods, meddling shamelessly—Zeus with his thunderbolts, Aphrodite with her matchmaking, Athena with her battle plans.

• Ten years of siege distilled into poetry that still makes modern war films feel like amateurs.

This 1997 Softback Preview edition brings Homer’s immortal verse into your hands without needing to learn ancient Greek or sit through an actual Trojan war. It’s compact, readable, and in Very Good condition—meaning no arrows through the spine, no spear-shaped creases, just the faintest patina of literary respect.

Perfect for:

• Readers who’ve always meant to read The Iliad but were put off by memories of baffling school translations.

• Collectors who love slightly oddball imprints like The Softback Preview.

• Anyone who secretly wants to yell, “Sing, O Muse!” at their morning commute.

At Crappy Old Books, we can’t guarantee the wrath of Achilles, but we can guarantee this copy is Very Good—and much easier to carry than a set of bronze armour.

Keep browsing: See more Ancient Classics books Other books by Homer