This is the second time I've read this - the first was E.V. Rieu's prose translation, which is not a patch on this, Fagles' verse version. This time round it felt much less cartoonish and more dramatic and I picked up on much more character depth. The song of Achilles' rage reflects better on Hector than Achilles himself. Hector is much more the heroic ideal we have now - Achilles is frequently proud, petty - angry, of course - and self-centred, yet capable of generosity and empathy. The gods, when on Olympus are the epitome of a dysfunctional, squabbling extended family, conniving, bullying, fighting, manipulating...yet down on Earth they are indeed gods - magical, majestic, awe-inspiring and superhumanly powerful.

Great stuff.