160,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock πŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ 

Overnight NZ-wide delivery πŸš€ | Visit our Auckland bookstore β€’ Open 7 days, 8:30am–5pm

The Epic of Gilgamesh

By Anonymous Anonymous
Penguin Classics
0.0 (0 reviews)
3.75 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating. ( 114,495 ratings, 7,572 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
The Epic of Gilgamesh is an ancient Mesopotamian text that narrates the adventures of Gilgamesh, a part-divine king of Uruk. The story explores his friendship with Enkidu, their thrilling quests, and Gilgamesh's poignant journey to understand mortality, seeking wisdom and immortality. It's a profound exploration of human nature, the search for meaning, and the acceptance of life's limits.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2400
Elsewhere:
$2600
OVERNIGHT NZ-WIDE DELIVERY

Found a better price? Request a price match

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?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by ancient literature and mythological tales that explore themes of friendship, mortality, and the quest for meaning. It's perfect for those interested in the foundational stories of human civilisation and the rich cultural heritage of Mesopotamia.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Miraculously preserved on clay tablets dating back four thousand years, the poem of Gilgamesh, king of Uruk, is the world's oldest epic. The story tells of Gilgamesh's adventures with the wild man Enkidu. This text is translated by Andrew George.

A reissue of Andrew George's bestselling translation, now revised and expanded with the addition of newly discovered material.

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

Miraculously preserved on clay tablets dating back as much as four thousand years, the poem of Gilgamesh, king of Uruk, is the world's oldest epic, predating Homer by many centuries.

The story tells of Gilgamesh's adventures with the wild man Enkidu, and of his arduous journey to the ends of the earth in quest of the Babylonian Noah and the secret of immortality.

Alongside its themes of family, friendship, and the duties of kings, The Epic of Gilgamesh is, above all, about mankind's eternal struggle with the fear of death.

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?

The Epic of Gilgamesh has been highly praised for its masterful verse translation, with reviewers noting its ability to appeal to both scholarly audiences and the general public. Andrew George's translation is lauded for its skill in making this ancient text accessible while maintaining its academic integrity.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780140449198

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 05 December 2002

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Translated by Andrew George
  • Introduction by Andrew George

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 18.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 199.0mm

Weight: 224g

Pages: 304

Collections

Anonymous Anonymous Arts & Culture Best Sellers at Book Hero Best Selling Books In Stock Arts & Culture Books In Stock Books New Zealand's Best Selling Books Non-Fiction Penguin Black Classics Penguin Books Penguin Classics Penguin Classics: Arts & Culture Penguin Classics: Poetry Poetry

About the Author

Andrew George is Professor of Babylonian at SOAS (the School of Oriential and African Studies), part of the University of London. His research has taken him many times to Iraq to visit Babylon and other ancient sites, and to museums in Baghdad, Europe and North America to read the original clay tablets on which the scribes of ancient Iraq wrote.

Also by Anonymous Anonymous

View all
  • Diary of an Oxygen Thief
    Hurt people hurt people. Say there was a novel in which Holden Caulfield was an alcoholic and Lolita was a photographer's assistant and, somehow, they met in Bright Lights, Big City. He's blinded by love. She by ambition. Diary of an Oxygen Thief is an honest, hilarious, and heartrending novel, but above all, a very realistic account of what we...
    By Anonymous Author and Anonymous Anonymous
    Paperback
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Holiday Ever After
    From the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author of Icebreaker comes a brand newstandalone romance set in the charming small town of Fraser Falls.'Hannah Grace delivers sparkling, small-town magic in this festive, feel-good bop of mydreams'- B.K. Borison, New York Times bestselling author---Clara Davenport wants to solve Fraser Falls' biggest problem.According to Jack Kelly, Clara is Fraser Falls' biggest problem.All Clara...
    By Hannah Grace
    Paperback
    $2600
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Eunuchs and Nymphomaniacs
    You've never seen romance do this before. So brutally honest and breathtakingly perverse you'll want to throw this book at the wall, but you'll also want to know if it can possibly get any more disturbing (it can and it does). As you start to wonder whether men and women were ever meant to be together, a surprise ending brings...
    By Anonymous Author and Anonymous Anonymous
    Paperback
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Philokalia
    A selection of key works from the foundational book of the Orthodox Church, in a landmark new translation. β€˜Eat the gnostic bread of wisdom found in this book, and drink the wine which gladdens the heart’ The Philokalia is the most influential book in the recent history of the Orthodox Church, aside from the Bible. It is an anthology of...
    By Anonymous Anonymous
    Paperback
    $6100
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • Chameleon in a Candy Store
    Picking up the story where it left off, the controversial protagonist of the cult classic Diary of an Oxygen Thief retools his advertising skills to seduce women online. It's a pursuit that quickly becomes a dangerous fixation, often requiring even more creativity and deception than his award-winning ad campaigns. Dazzling, daunting, and darkly hilarious, this spellbinding sequel is a spectacular...
    By Anonymous Author and Anonymous Anonymous
    Paperback
    $2899
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Shame Addict
    New Release
    The Shame Addict
    Shame is an acquired taste. Nobody knows this better than the young anonymous narrator subjected to repeated instances of sexual abuse, parental beatings and gleefully administered psychological cruelty. After some formative missteps in Zambia and France, he arrives in London where he finds the perfect enabler for his shame habit: a career in advertising. Brilliant, depraved and unexpectedly sophisticated, The...
    By Anonymous Anonymous
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

More from Arts & Culture

View all
  • Dylan's Pick
    Bold Types
    A tribute to 32 truly independent bookshops throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, from north of Auckland down to Dunedin, and coast to coast. Jane Ussher's photographs show every bookstore in its unique nature - including behind the counter, smoko rooms, the mess which tells the hardworking story behind the joy of matching books with customers. Jemma Moreira's careful editing has crafted...
    By Jane Ussher
    Hardback
    $5999
    Elsewhere:
    $7000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    I’ll Believe in Anything
    From Jacob Tierney, the creator ofΒ Heated Rivalry, in partnership with Brendan Brady and AccentΒ Aigu, comesΒ I’llΒ Believe in Anything, an official and complete collection of annotated scripts for the biggest cultural sensation of the year, with all new exclusive behind-the-scenes content.Based on Rachel Reid’s blockbuster Game Changers book series,Β Heated RivalryΒ premiered on Crave and HBO in late 2025 andΒ immediatelyΒ took the world by storm.Β I’ll...
    By Jacob Tierney
    Hardback
    $5499
    Elsewhere:
    $6000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    Shirl's Pick Shirl's Pick
    Home Again
    Join rock-legend, former Shihad frontman and lead singer of The Adults, Jon Toogood in this unflinching and no-holds-barred memoirΒ Home Again.This is more than a rock story.Β Toogood looks back on a 37-year career that helped define New Zealand rock music, and the personal cost that came with it.Β From a music-obsessed childhood in Wellington to the deafening roar of international stages, this...
    By Jon Toogood
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Odyssey
    Composed at the rosy-fingered dawn of world literature almost three millennia ago, The Odyssey is a poem about violence and the aftermath of war; about wealth, poverty and power; about marriage and family; about travellers, hospitality, and the yearning for home. This fresh, authoritative translation captures the beauty of this ancient poem as well as the drama of its narrative....
    By Homer
    Paperback
    $2999
    Elsewhere:
    $3599
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Disney Moana: The Official Cookbook
    Disney Moana: The Official Cookbook
    Embark on a culinary adventure with Moana of Motunui with Pacific recipes inspired by Moana and Moana 2! After a long day of sailing to see how far you’ll go or keeping the demigod Maui out of trouble with Te Fiti, catch a break with the delicious dishes in Moana: The Official Cookbook! Featuring more than 50 recipes spanning the...
    By Monique Fiso
    Hardback
    $4499
    Elsewhere:
    $5299
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Iliad
    When Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey appeared in 2017β€”revealing the ancient poem in a contemporary idiom that was "fresh, unpretentious and lean" (Madeline Miller, Washington Post)β€”critics lauded it as "a revelation" (Susan Chira, New York Times) and "a cultural landmark" (Charlotte Higgins, Guardian) that would forever change how Homer is read in English. Now Wilson has returned with an...
    By Homer
    Paperback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    A Life in Lyrics
    Freddie Mercury was one of the greatest showmen of the twentieth century. With his unparalleled voice and searing on-stage energy, he was a great pretender, a killer queen and a champion of the world. But behind the glamour lived a musician and lyricist talented beyond measure, and the creative force behind one of the most culturally significant and musically diverse...
    By Freddie Mercury
    Hardback
    $5000
    Elsewhere:
    $6500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Birdlands Birdlands
    New Release
    Birdlands
    A rare, intimate journey into the wild islands where Aotearoa's birds live beyond the reach of most human lives. In the most remote outposts of Aotearoa, our islands are populated not with people, but with birds. From the storm-lashed Subantarctic Islands in the deep south to the scattered volcanic islands of Tikapa Moana/Hauraki Gulf in the north, Birdlands offers a...
    By Edin Whitehead
    Hardback
    $4199
    Elsewhere:
    $5000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • This Angry Pen of Mine
    This Angry Pen of Mine by Layne Staley invites you to dive into the untold creative world of Layne Staley, the legendary voice behind Alice in Chains. This extraordinary collection showcases his handwritten lyrics, deeply personal poetry, stunning original artwork, rare photos, fan tributes, and so much more. Step into the world of Layne Staley like never before. For the...
    By Layne Staley
    Hardback
    $7299
    Elsewhere:
    $8999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Artist's Way
    The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron is a transformative guidebook that has captivated millions, including luminaries such as Elizabeth Gilbert and Tim Ferriss. With its profound ability to inspire and elevate, this book invites readers to embark on an enriching creative journey, fostering a deeper connection to one's artistic process and sense of purpose. The heart of Cameron's groundbreaking programme...
    By Julia Cameron
    Paperback
    $3700
    Elsewhere:
    $4500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Beautiful Chaos
    New Release
    Beautiful Chaos
    Featuring five exclusive new poems, this stunning foil-embossed hardback edition is a collector's item and a gorgeous gift. The Instant Sunday Times Bestseller. Selected poems on motherhood from bestselling author and Instagram poet, Jessica Urlichs. 'Reading Jess's poems makes me feel like she's somehow reached into my own personal reflections and articulated them in a way I never could.' –...
    By Jessica Urlichs
    Hardback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Mah Jong Player's Companion
    Since the arrival on the market of Patricia Thompson and Betty Maloney's two previous books, The Game of Mah Jong Illustrated and Improve Your Mah Jong, a wide range of hands from many parts of the world has been sent to them. In this player's companion, the authors have put together a cross-filled reference guide where over 120 hands, illustrated...
    By Patricia Thompson and Betty Maloney
    Paperback
    $1999
    Elsewhere:
    $2299
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 160,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.

Arts & Culture lists from the team

Explore our curated lists from our heroes to find your next read!

The Latest at Book Hero

View all