Michael Silk covers the poem's historical context, composition and extensive influence in this distinctive critical introduction to Homer's Iliad, the earliest epic poem, and the earliest known work of literature in ancient Greece. Silk relates its literary power to the peculiar coherence and inter-relation of such aspects of the poem as its style, character-portrayal and ideology. This revised edition considers recent scholarship and includes an updated guide to further reading. First Edition Hb (1986): 0-521-32814-4 First Edition Pb (1986): 0-521-31302-3