The Iliad

Retold in easy English (A2) from the novel by Homer

The whole of Homer's Iliad, retold in easy English. For nine years the Greeks have fought at the walls of Troy, all for beautiful Helen. Then their king Agamemnon takes a girl from Achilles, the greatest fighter of them all. Achilles is so angry that he stops fighting, and without him the Greeks begin to lose. Gods fight beside men, Hector of Troy burns the Greek ships, and Achilles's best friend Patroclus goes out in Achilles's armour. What happens next changes everything. A story about anger, friendship and a father who comes at night to the tent of his son's killer.

In English and German · 24 chapters · about 55,800 words · 10 h 45 min to read.

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How it begins

EnglishGerman

The Anger of Achilles

Der Zorn von Achilles

Sing, goddess, about the anger of Achilles, son of Peleus. His anger brought pain to thousands of Greeks. It sent many brave men down to the land of the dead. Their bodies lay on the ground for the dogs and the birds. That was the plan of Zeus. Sing about the day when Agamemnon, king of men, and great Achilles first quarrelled.

Sing, Göttin, vom Zorn von Achilles, dem Sohn von Peleus. Sein Zorn hat Tausenden von Griechen Schmerz gebracht. Er hat viele tapfere Männer hinunter ins Totenreich geschickt. Ihre Leichen haben für die Hunde und die Vögel auf dem Boden gelegen. Das war der Plan von Zeus. Sing vom Tag, an dem Agamemnon, der König über die Männer, und der große Achilles sich zum ersten Mal gestritten haben.

Which of the gods made them quarrel? It was Apollo, the son of Zeus and Leto. He was angry with King Agamemnon. So he sent a terrible plague on the Greek army.

Welcher von den Göttern hat sie in Streit gebracht? Es war Apollon, der Sohn von Zeus und Leto. Er war wütend auf König Agamemnon. Darum hat er eine schreckliche Pest über das griechische Heer geschickt.

The opening paragraphs, as the reader shows them. Read on

Languages

All 2 editions: titles, levels and lengths

The Iliad · English (original)A2 Easy · 55,769 words · ~10 h 15 min
Die Ilias · GermanA2 Easy · 58,274 words · ~10 h 45 min

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German with English · English with German

Reading it as a parallel text

A parallel text puts a story next to its translation, paragraph by paragraph. Read in the language you are working on and glance across only when a sentence stops you: the story keeps moving, and the words you look up stay in context. More in how to read with a parallel text.

Questions

Which languages can I read The Iliad in?

English and German. Pick the language you want to read and the one to keep beside it: every paragraph sits next to its translation, so you can check a sentence without losing your place.

What level is it?

The original English is A2 Easy. In translation, German is A2 Easy. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from A1 (beginner) to C2.

How long is it?

About 55,769 words in 24 chapters: around 10 h 45 min of reading, with the translation beside it. The time depends on the edition's level: an easier edition is read more slowly.

Is it free?

Yes. Read it online with no account. The downloads (PDF, EPUB, and AZW3 and MOBI for Kindle) need a free account.

Can I read it on a Kindle or Kobo?

Yes. Download the EPUB for Kobo, Apple Books and most e-readers, or the AZW3 or MOBI for a Kindle, with each paragraph followed by its translation. There is also a side-by-side PDF to print, and each language on its own.