You brought Iliad alive with this beautiful writing and analysis, choice of van Gogh's painting and Patrick Shaw-Stewart's poem. If I may beg to differ on your beauty tip just this one time :-), I prefer red but not blood-red in my wardrobe! Looking forward to reading your work next week.
The Iliad is such a remarkable book/poem. (In fact, I think our modern world is sadly starting to forget just how astonishing this work is, and the endless depths it contains!)
But I love how you capture it with the intensity of your own writing here too - and the way you highlight how the shadow of grief that follows all the wrath and violence is another really brilliant point.
Also, I must admit I am a fan of your choice with the van Gogh painting too. (Though perhaps I'm biased here as van Gogh happens to one of my favourite artists, and that quote is one I have often spoken to people about too!)
I could say so much more, but don't want this comment to become a whole essay in itself.
So for now, just want to commend you again for all your work here - and thank you for providing the perfect article for my Saturday reading tonight.
I agree—I think our modern world could definitely use a reminder to read The Iliad! I recently read Emily Wilson's new translation, which I think is really great for our times because it flows so easily and she uses language that makes the poem feel less stodgy & archaic and more immediate.
I'm always jumping at an excuse to include a van Gogh painting in a post haha—he's such a wonderful artist, and I think his work also contains the sort of intensity I love in the Iliad.
Thank you so much for reading, George, and for being so encouraging as always! Your kind words really mean a lot to me.
Beautiful article
Thank you!
Ramya,
You brought Iliad alive with this beautiful writing and analysis, choice of van Gogh's painting and Patrick Shaw-Stewart's poem. If I may beg to differ on your beauty tip just this one time :-), I prefer red but not blood-red in my wardrobe! Looking forward to reading your work next week.
Haha that makes sense—just plain red is nice too! Thank you so much for reading and leaving a comment as always!
Wow - this is amazing, Ramya.
The Iliad is such a remarkable book/poem. (In fact, I think our modern world is sadly starting to forget just how astonishing this work is, and the endless depths it contains!)
But I love how you capture it with the intensity of your own writing here too - and the way you highlight how the shadow of grief that follows all the wrath and violence is another really brilliant point.
Also, I must admit I am a fan of your choice with the van Gogh painting too. (Though perhaps I'm biased here as van Gogh happens to one of my favourite artists, and that quote is one I have often spoken to people about too!)
I could say so much more, but don't want this comment to become a whole essay in itself.
So for now, just want to commend you again for all your work here - and thank you for providing the perfect article for my Saturday reading tonight.
I agree—I think our modern world could definitely use a reminder to read The Iliad! I recently read Emily Wilson's new translation, which I think is really great for our times because it flows so easily and she uses language that makes the poem feel less stodgy & archaic and more immediate.
I'm always jumping at an excuse to include a van Gogh painting in a post haha—he's such a wonderful artist, and I think his work also contains the sort of intensity I love in the Iliad.
Thank you so much for reading, George, and for being so encouraging as always! Your kind words really mean a lot to me.