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Gilgamesh

By Stephen Mitchell
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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
Gilgamesh by Stephen Mitchell is a modern rendition of an ancient Mesopotamian epic, detailing the journey of King Gilgamesh as he grapples with the themes of friendship, power, and the quest for immortality. This profound narrative explores the hero's complex relationship with his friend Enkidu, leading to a transformative journey following a personal loss. Mitchell's version captures the timeless human quest for meaning against the backdrop of a mythic landscape.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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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 may appeal to you if you have an interest in ancient literature, mythology, and epic tales. It offers a modern and accessible retelling of one of the world's oldest stories, enriched with cultural insights and beautiful prose. Ideal for readers who appreciate classic narratives infused with contemporary understanding.

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Gilgamesh

Vivid, enjoyable and comprehensible, the poet and pre-eminent translator Stephen Mitchell makes the oldest epic poem in the world accessible for the first time

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

Gilgamesh is a born leader, but in an attempt to control his growing arrogance, the Gods create Enkidu, a wild man, his equal in strength and courage. Enkidu is trapped by a temple prostitute, civilised through sexual experience and brought to Gilgamesh. They become best friends and battle evil together.

After Enkidu's death, the distraught Gilgamesh sets out on a journey to find Utnapishtim, the survivor of the Great Flood, made immortal by the Gods to ask him the secret of life and death. Gilgamesh is the first and remains one of the most important works of world literature.

Written in ancient Mesopotamia in the second millennium B.C., it predates the Iliad by roughly 1,000 years. Gilgamesh is extraordinarily modern in its emotional power but also provides an insight into the values of an ancient culture and civilisation.

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?

Stephen Mitchell's Gilgamesh has been praised for its captivating narrative verse and fluid four-stressed lines, creating an engaging mythic world where everyday and heroic elements blend seamlessly. Critics highlight Mitchell's ability to present the ancient story with clarity, making it accessible and compelling to modern readers, while not forsaking its otherworldly qualities. Esteemed voices like Harold Pinter and Harold Bloom commend it as an excellent translation, with a balance of eloquence and readability, while others compare it favourably to celebrated translations like Seamus Heaney's Beowulf, noting its ability to rejuvenate the ancient tale.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781861977984

Publisher: Profile Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 October 2005

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Profile Books Ltd

Edition: Main

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 22.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 220g

Pages: 304

Collections

Arts & Culture Non-Fiction Stephen Mitchell

About the Author

Stephen Mitchell is widely known for his original and definitive versions of spiritual writings and poetry. His many books include The Selected Poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke, Tao Te Ching, The Gospel According to Jesus and Bhagavad Gita.

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