Gilgamesh: A New Translation of the Ancient Epic

A poem for the ages, freshly and accessibly translated by an international rising star, bringing together scholarly precision and poetic grace

"Sophus Helle's new translation . . . [is] a thrilling, enchanting, desperate thing to read."--Nina MacLaughlin, Boston Globe

"Looks to be the last word on this Babylonian masterpiece."--Michael Dirda, Washington Post

Gilgamesh is a Babylonian story about love between men, loss and grief, the confrontation with death; the destruction of nature; insomnia and restlessness, finding peace in one's community, the voice of women, the folly of gods, heroes, and monsters--and more. Translating directly from the Akkadian, Sophus Helle offers a literary translation that reproduces the original epic's poetic effects, including its succinct clarity and enchanting cadence. Millennia after its composition, Gilgamesh continues to speak to us in myriad ways.

Author: Sophus Helle
Publisher: Yale University Press
Published: 09/06/2022
Pages: 320
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.8lbs
Size: 9.80h x 6.40w x 0.80d
ISBN: 9780300268096

About the Author
Sophus Helle is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Freie Universität Berlin. He previously translated Gilgamesh into Danish with his father, the poet Morten Søndergaard.