The Epic of Gilgamesh (1872) (edit title/settings)

• Rated 4 stars

“This was a book that I read in Social Studies class. It was a good book because it did a lot of explanation.”

• Rated 5 stars

“I have read this book every year for over 20 years because I taught it every fall. A true classic of world literature; the seed from which literature grew.”

• Rated 3 stars

“Great story, first novel ever written? ”

• Rated 4 stars

“David Ferry, in 1992, conceived and produced a sparse but effective translation of the epic into modern verse. The story is well known, at least from the influence it at on later works such as the Bible (the flood) and other epics. The story revolves around a relationship between Gilgamesh and his close companion, Enkidu. Enkidu is a wild man created by the gods as Gilgamesh's equal to distract him from oppressing the citizens of Uruk. It was the first to develop themes that would continue through western literature, such as the use of the "double" and the contrast of civilization, represented by the city, with the wilderness. Ferry's modern translation allows these themes to come through the text without using a precise literal line by line translation. A very readable rendition of the original western epic.”

• Rated 0 stars

“The Mitchell interpretation goes down easy - it's smooth and nice to read, but because it's not a translation there are certain things missing. I prefer this interpretation when I don't want to think too hard, but prefer to feel strong emotions.”

• Rated 5 stars

“When I taught World Lit, this was one of my students' favorites!”

• Rated 3 stars

“It's a beautiful ancient legend, carrying some of the ideas that humans still live with about life, and death, fear, ego and friendship. It's sad how much of it was lost and amazing how much was found. ”

• Rated 0 stars

“genre: historical ficton

pages: 304

a good book. its about a king named gilgamesh who was 2/3 god and his friend named enkidu who was half man half animal. Gilgamesh sent a priestist to the woods to make the animals ashamed of enkidu then the preistis saved his hair and made him look like a man. then gilgamesh and enkidu got in a fight because enkidu was getting married and the king always sleep with the brides before there husbands are permitted. then then resolved and became best friends and fought the bull of heaven and humbaba and then enkidu died and gilgamesh went on a journey to get him back.”

• Rated 3 stars

“Thought this book was okay! Thought it needed a little more action! It ends like in a weird way.”

• Rated 5 stars

“Maybe it's my interest in greek mythology but The Epic of Gilgamesh tells the tale of Gilgamesh being the first hero. Symbolic meanings help explain Gilgamesh's life story through he adventures with his companion Enkidu and after his companion dies. Its a life changing journey for Gilgamesh. A journey of self discovery. I reccomend his book to all high school students because it encourages students to discover themselves in creating thier futures.”