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Homer

The Very Idea
3.83 goodreads logo

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( 23 ratings, 7 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Homer: The Very Idea by James I. Porter delves into the enduring fascination with Homer, the poet behind the Iliad and the Odyssey. Rather than seeking to solve the mystery of Homer's identity, Porter explores how Homer has been imagined and reimagined throughout history. The book traces the cultural impact of Homer as a symbol and concept, revealing how the idea of Homer has evolved in literature, criticism, philosophy, art, and archaeology, shaping the way we understand these ancient epics.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3599
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is ideal for readers interested in classical literature, cultural history, and literary theory. Scholars, students, and anyone fascinated by the myths and meanings surrounding Homer will find this engaging and thought-provoking.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The story of our ongoing fascination with Homer, the man and the myth.

Homer, the great poet of the Iliad and the Odyssey, is revered as a cultural icon of antiquity and a figure of lasting influence. But his identity is shrouded in questions about who he was, when he lived, and whether he was an actual person, a myth, or merely a shared idea. Rather than attempting to solve the mystery of this character, James I. Porter explores the sources of Homer’s mystique and their impact since the first recorded mentions of Homer in ancient Greece.

Homer: The Very Idea considers Homer not as a man, but as a cultural invention nearly as distinctive and important as the poems attributed to him, following the cultural history of an idea and of the obsession that is reborn every time Homer is imagined. Offering novel readings of texts and objects, the book follows the very idea of Homer from his earliest mentions to his most recent imaginings in literature, criticism, philosophy, visual art, and classical archaeology.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Critics praise Porter's nuanced exploration of the 'Homeric questions'. Barbara Graziosi, writing for the Times Literary Supplement, applauds his brilliant insights, such as the symbolic interpretation of Homer's alleged blindness. Reviews highlight how the book offers challenging and eye-opening readings, providing valuable perspectives on Homer’s poetry and its cultural significance through the centuries.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780226675909

Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 22 March 2023

Country: United States

Imprint: University of Chicago Press

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 23.0mm

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 229.0mm

Weight: 399g

Pages: 280

About the Author

James I. Porter is the Irving Stone Professor of Literature at the University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of numerous books, including Nietzsche and the Philology of the Future, The Invention of Dionysus: An Essay on β€˜The Birth of Tragedy,' and The Sublime in Antiquity. He has also edited several books and is a coauthor of Postclassicisms, also published by the University of Chicago Press.

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