A call for epic poetry/prose recommendations!

Cyclops · 10-24-2010, 06:11 PM

May I add the following peer
Of poetry great and small?
Tho I read but little rhyme
'Twas enjoyed in all its thrall
Of Coleridge, Samuel Taylor
Do I speak, with his maritime Rime
Of sea and spirit and sailor
Didst he write and I did find the time!
And so I beg to members here
E'en though you may not read
The poets great of times gone by
You give their names some heed
And if you know of poems alike
The one which I descrie
Wouldst that thou inform me here
So that then I might them try?

DavidRM · 10-24-2010, 06:46 PM

I read Eric Brighteyes long, long ago. It was written in the style of an Icelandic saga (I think).

The book is public domain so there's probably a way to read as an ebook.

-David

MickeyC · 10-24-2010, 08:04 PM

Strongly recommend Under Milk Wood available here in the Patricia Clark memorial library

ardeegee · 10-24-2010, 08:29 PM

The Kalevala.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalevala

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/5186

Cyclops · 10-25-2010, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardeegee

The Kalevala.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalevala

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/5186

Hmm that makes me think of Sibelius. Finnish?

Cyclops · 10-25-2010, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidRM

I read Eric Brighteyes long, long ago. It was written in the style of an Icelandic saga (I think).

The book is public domain so there's probably a way to read as an ebook.

-David

Hmmm, never heard of it-must google!

BenG · 10-25-2010, 10:18 AM

The Long Ships by Frans G. Bengtsson will be available at Amazon.com on December 1.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Long-Ships...tag=inkmesh-20

A review by Michael Chabon:
http://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2...he-long-ships/

Cyclops · 10-25-2010, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenG

The Long Ships by Frans G. Bengtsson will be available at Amazon.com on December 1.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Long-Ships...tag=inkmesh-20

A review by Michael Chabon:
http://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2...he-long-ships/

Oh I don't want to buy e-books-i want them free!

But seriously, I wouldn't buy a book I knew nothing about, and if I had to spend money on a book it would be a real book.

ardeegee · 10-25-2010, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyclops

Hmm that makes me think of Sibelius. Finnish?

No, to be honest. I started them once a long time ago (a two-volume HB set I found at a flea market) but still haven't Finnished them.

HarryT · 10-25-2010, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cassidym

Strongly recommend Under Milk Wood available here in the Patricia Clark memorial library

Great poem, but in no way whatsoever an epic.

HarryT · 10-25-2010, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyclops

Hmmm, never heard of it-must google!

The author is Sir Henry Rider Haggard. It's contained in Volume 8 of my series of Haggard anthologies here at MR.

HarryT · 10-25-2010, 11:46 AM

There are of course three "definitive" epics which I'd recommend everyone to read: Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey", and Virgil's "Aeneid". They are among the cornerstones of Western literature.

Cyclops · 10-25-2010, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

The author is Sir Henry Rider Haggard. It's contained in Volume 8 of my series of Haggard anthologies here at MR.

Ah yea H Rider Haggard, King Solonmon's Mines, She etc. I have the former on my shelf.

Cyclops · 10-25-2010, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

There are of course three "definitive" epics which I'd recommend everyone to read: Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey", and Virgil's "Aeneid". They are among the cornerstones of Western literature.

They would probably go right over my head!

HarryT · 10-26-2010, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyclops

They would probably go right over my head!

Not at all. They are all great stories! The Odyssey, especially, is an absolutely wonderful adventure story. I'd recommend the Richard Lattimore translation - it really preserves the "feel" of the Greek original. Your username here - Cyclops; the story of the Cyclops is from the Odyssey.

10-24-2010, 06:11 PM	#1
Cyclops Only need one eye to read Posts: 796 Karma: 6277024 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Darlington, England Device: Kobo Touch N905C, Sony PRS-300, Nintendo DSi XL,	A call for epic poetry/prose recommendations! May I add the following peer Of poetry great and small? Tho I read but little rhyme 'Twas enjoyed in all its thrall Of Coleridge, Samuel Taylor Do I speak, with his maritime Rime Of sea and spirit and sailor Didst he write and I did find the time! And so I beg to members here E'en though you may not read The poets great of times gone by You give their names some heed And if you know of poems alike The one which I descrie Wouldst that thou inform me here So that then I might them try?

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10-24-2010, 06:46 PM	#2
DavidRM Addict Posts: 203 Karma: 1007768 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Device: Kindle	I read Eric Brighteyes long, long ago. It was written in the style of an Icelandic saga (I think). The book is public domain so there's probably a way to read as an ebook. -David

10-24-2010, 08:04 PM	#3
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,732 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	Strongly recommend Under Milk Wood available here in the Patricia Clark memorial library

10-24-2010, 08:29 PM	#4
ardeegee Maratus speciosus butt Posts: 3,292 Karma: 1162698 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-350	The Kalevala. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalevala http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/5186

10-25-2010, 10:18 AM	#7
BenG Home Guard Posts: 4,729 Karma: 86721650 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alpha Ralpha Boulevard Device: Kindle Oasis 3G, iPhone 6	The Long Ships by Frans G. Bengtsson will be available at Amazon.com on December 1. http://www.amazon.com/The-Long-Ships...tag=inkmesh-20 A review by Michael Chabon: http://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2...he-long-ships/

10-25-2010, 11:46 AM	#12
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	There are of course three "definitive" epics which I'd recommend everyone to read: Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey", and Virgil's "Aeneid". They are among the cornerstones of Western literature.