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In 2017, Emily Wilson published her translation of Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey to great fanfare, making a significant contribution to how Homer would be read in the English language. Now, she continues to make what’s old new again with her translation of The Iliad, which she labored over for six years. Wilson’s spin on the battlefield saga centered on the Trojan conflict is refreshing and bold, and shows off her background as a Greek classics scholar (she teaches at the University of Pennsylvania). In her version, Wilson underlines the timeless and universal themes at the heart of the Iliad surrounding humanity, grief, and loss. In doing so, she makes a text most readers associate with schoolwork something much more exciting. —Annabel Gutterman

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