Name: Gilgamesh
ISBN: 9780618275649

Herbert Mason

Presents a verse narrative of the ancient Babylonian epic about love, death, loss, heroes, and friendship, including an historical essay on the original poem.

A Verse Narrative

Gilgamesh

The epic of Gilgamesh is the epic of becoming human and one can only achieve that with the company of others. 

aral

Gilgamesh was called a god and man; Enkidu was an animal and man. It is the story Of their becoming human together.

Albert Lord had held the notion that Gilgamesh, rather than being a superhero with only one minor flaw, was a kind of antihero whose only heroism consisted in his continuing his journey, not from any feat of strength, godlike invulnerability, moral foresight or circumspection, or spiritual wisdom within himself. (...)

It is, after all, a story that is understood immediately by anyone who has suffered loss, a loss one has yearned to restore and finally has had to accept.

National Book Award Finalist: The most widely read and enduring interpretation of this ancient Babylonian epic. One of the oldest and most universal stories known in literature, the epic of Gilgamesh presents the grand, timeless themes of love and death, loss and reparations, within the stirring tale of a hero-king and his doomed friend. A National Book Award finalist, Herbert Mason’s retelling is at once a triumph of scholarship, a masterpiece of style, and a labor of love that grew out of the poet’s long affinity with the original. “Mr. Mason’s version is the one I would recommend to the first-time reader.” —Victor Howes, The Christian Science Monitor “Like the Tolkien cycle, this poem will be read with profit and joy for generations to come.” —William Alfred, Harvard University

Though Herbert Mason says this is only "his Gilgamesh" told in his limited talent, his understanding of the epic, of Gilgamesh, and his relationship with Enkidu surpass all his concerns and serve a beautiful tale that soaks the reader in various emotions; from grief to moving on. 

"The noises in his city And laughter from outside Had reached his ears (…)

(…) he went outside To see himself Just what had drawn them Into celebration." 

Though Herbert Mason says this is only "his Gilgamesh" told in his limited talent, his understanding of the epic, of Gilgamesh, and his relationship with Enkidu surpass all his concerns and serve a beautiful tale that soaks the reader in various emotions; from grief to moving on. 

"The noises in his city And laughter from outside Had reached his ears (…)

(…) he went outside To see himself Just what had drawn them Into celebration." 

Gilgamesh A Verse Narrative

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