1759 – Iliad & Odyssey – Homer | Famous Alexander Pope English – 8v Set

A rare 18th-century edition of Homer, the legendary Greek poet responsible for the mythological epic poems the ‘Iliad’ and the ‘Odyssey. These two poems focus on Greek mythological heroes, their military conquests, and involvement in the Trojan War. Each of these titles have been printed and reprinted countless times.

This edition of the ‘Iliad and ‘Odyssey’ was translated into English by Alexander Pope with added notes of William Broome and Elijah Fenton. According to Samuel Johnson, the Pope translation is

‘the greatest translation ever achieved in English or in any other language!’ (Wills)

Worth noting, this edition was published for some of the greatest authors of all time including Horace, Virgil, Cicero, Milton, and Plato.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Iliad; The Odyssey of Homer
• Author(s): Homer
• Contributor(s): Alexander Pope (Translator)
• Publisher: London, printed for A. Horace, P. Virgil, and T. Cicero, J. Milton, D. Plato
• Edition: 1759.
• Binding: Full leather
• Format: (12mo), 8-volume set
• Size:  7 in x 4 in (18 cm x 10 cm)
• Collation: 8 volumes – each volume separately paged
• Illustrations: portrait bust of Homer
• Contents Include:
  • The Odyssey and The Iliad, full English text
  • Classical myths – Achilles and the Greek heroes
• Provenance: bookplate – F. Chamberlin

Condition:

Good. Full leather bindings with rubbing and wear at the corners. Covers show some movement but remain attached. Pages are generally clean and legible throughout the set. Portrait of Homer remains present in the first volume.

Why Collect This?

• Alexander Pope’s famous English translation of Homer’s Odyssey and Iliad

Item Number: # 50520