Homer: His Art and His World

Published to great success in Europe Joachim Lataczs book Homer His Art and His World is now widely available to an English-speaking audience. Homer His Art and His World takes Homer out of the preserve of specialists and carefully outlines the historical background to Homer and his poetry. Current perspectives on the Iliad and the Odyssey are explained clearly and narrow philological questions are deliberately avoided. Written in an accessible style for lovers of Homer and all who would like to be Lataczs book brings Homer closer to the modern audience as a poet and not as a historical source. Homer His Art and His World includes sections on the relevance of Homer to modern issues in literary criticism; on contemporary culture and history including the Mycenaean era; the renaissance of the eighth century B.C.E.; and the poetical context of Homers work; as well as specific chapters on the Iliad and Odyssey and features peculiar to each poem. Homer His Art and His World will be of interest to a broad range of readers including those interested in the literary history of Western culture. Joachim Latacz is Professor of Greek at the University of Basel Switzerland. James P. Holoka is Professor of Classics and Ancient History at Eastern Michigan University.