The Iliad
The Greeks have been besieging Troy for nine years when a quarrel over a captive woman sets Achilles, their greatest fighter, against Agamemnon, their commander. Achilles withdraws from the battle, and the poem follows what his absence costs: Hector drives the Greeks back to their ships, Achilles' friend Patroclus goes out in his armor and is killed, and Achilles returns to the fight in a rage that ends only when Hector's father comes to his tent to beg for the body. Composed in Greek around the eighth century BC, the Iliad covers a few weeks of the war and says nothing of the wooden horse. This edition presents William Cullen Bryant's blank-verse translation of 1870, plain and close to the original. It is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, with the first book free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about The Iliad
The Iliad by Homer can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Iliad online?
Yes. The Iliad opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The Iliad free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Iliad is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Iliad in the public domain?
Yes. The Iliad by Homer is a public-domain work, here in the translation by William Cullen Bryant. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Iliad?
About 10 h 24 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Iliad?
The Iliad by Homer is filed under "Poetry" in the Vinteuil library.
