The Epic of Gilgamesh (Penguin Classics)

Thanks to many archaeologists and translators, the voice of a storyteller from 4000 years ago has survived to our time. It is incredible to be reading an epic so ancient. The story of the adventures of Gilgamesh and Enkidu is as gripping as any modern tale. It bridges a vast gulf of time. It is worth reading for the story itself, the sense of passing time, and a hint of how people would have lived in times past.

The introduction is quite interesting, but takes up the first half of the book. I would have made it shorter and put most of the information in appendices. I'd recommend reading the epic first and then deciding if you want to read the introduction.