Blackwoods Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 59, No. 365, March, 1846

This work is a bold experiment that brings the ancient rhythm of Homer’s Iliad into English hexameters, a meter rarely attempted in the language. The translator, aware of past efforts by poets such as Southey and Coleridge, strives to preserve the original’s vigor while giving the verses a musical flow that feels both classical and fresh. Readers will appreciate the careful choice to retain the Greek names of the gods, adding an authentic touch that scholars will recognize.

The opening passages plunge listeners into the raw grief of Achilles, who sits alone in his tent, mourning Patroclus. The verses convey his sleepless sorrow, the restless wandering along the shore, and the vivid image of the morning light breaking over the sea. The rhythm carries his anguish forward, making the ancient hero’s emotions immediate and palpable.

Beyond this first act, the translator hints at an ambitious plan to render the entire epic in the same measured verse, inviting listeners to imagine how the rest of the legendary war might sound when spoken in English hexameter.