Cambridge Companion to Homer

The Cambridge Companion to Homer is a guide to the essential aspects of Homeric criticism and scholarship, including the reception of the poems in ancient and modern times. Written by an international team of scholars, it is intended to be the first port of call for students at all levels, with introductions to important subjects and suggestions for further exploration. Alongside traditional topics like the Homeric Question, the divine apparatus of the poems, the formulae, the characters and the archaeological background, there are detailed discussions of similes, speeches, the poet as story-teller and the genre of epic both within Greece and worldwide. The reception chapters include assessments of ancient Greek and Roman readings as well as selected modern interpretations from the eighteenth century to the present day. Chapters on Homer in English translation and 'Homer' in the history of ideas round out the collection.

Review: 'The 22 contributors to this important book represent a healthy diversity of views but share fundamental assumptions. All engage closely with the text of Homer, and take the epics seriously as literature. ... one of the most distinguished of the Cambridge Companions series, and will be essential reading for every student.' The Anglo-Hellenic Review
'Every chapter proves rewarding. ... this is a magnificent achievement. It is the indispensable vade mecum for the student of Homer. Every school library should have a copy. Everybody in tertiary education should own one.' Journal of Classics Teaching
'... skilfully arranged and unfailingly lucid.' The Times Literary Supplement
'The volume's organization, in five main sections, is strong and clear, and the writing throughout is lucid, vigorous, and accessible.' Translation and Literature
'Written by an international team of scholars ... the first port of call for students at all levels, with introductions to important subjects and suggestions for further exploration.' http://w3.u-grenoble3.fr/homerica/actualites/livres.html
'... the Cambridge Companion bids fair to provide the best companionship for non-specialist readers of Homer. It covers the basic technical issues underlying current research and also provides thoughtful guides to reading the poems, especially in the context of English literature. ... A learned and humane collection ...' Journal of Hellenic Studies