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The Epic of Gilgamesh: A Norton Critical Edition (Norton Critical Editions) Paperback – February 14, 2019

by Benjamin R. Foster (Editor)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 297 ratings
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“This scrupulous new translation of The Epic of Gilgamesh manages to convey much of the archaic power and even something of the occasional humor of the ancient Mesopotamian poem. What is especially valuable is that the translators, by collating passages from the different ancient versions of this epic that have survived only in fragments, have made available many vivid narrative episodes that will be new to most English readers of the poem.” 

―Robert Alter, University of California, Berkeley

This Norton Critical Edition includes:

  • An expanded translation from the Akkadian by Benjamin R. Foster based on new discoveries, adding lines throughout the world’s oldest epic masterpiece.
  • Benjamin R. Foster’s full introduction and expanded explanatory annotations.
  • Eleven illustrations.
  • Analogues from the Sumerian and Hittite narrative traditions along with “The Gilgamesh Letter,” a parody of the epic enjoyed by Mesopotamian schoolchildren during the first millennium BCE.
  • Essays by Thorkild Jacobsen, William L. Moran, Susan Ackerman, and Andrew R. George, and a poem by Hillary Major.
  • A Glossary of Proper Names and a Selected Bibliography.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    272 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    W. W. Norton & Company
  4. Publication date
    February 14, 2019
  5. Dimensions
    5.2 x 0.6 x 8.3 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0393643980
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0393643985
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Benjamin R. Foster is Professor of Assyriology at Yale University, where he has taught since 1975. His books include Before the Muses: An Anthology of Akkadian Literature, From Distant Days: Myths, Tales, and Poetry of Ancient Mesopotamia, Sargonic Tablets from Telloh in the Istanbul Archaeological Museum, and Administration and Use of Institutional Land in Sargonic Sumer, and Umma in the Sargonic Period.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ W. W. Norton & Company; Second edition (February 14, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0393643980
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0393643985
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.5 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.2 x 0.6 x 8.3 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 297 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
297 global ratings
great book
5 Stars
great book
Great book, just got it in today very fast shipping as I requested. No damages on the book came in perfect condition as well without any issues. the book has no mistake when reading in it from words or any printing errors.
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Top reviews from the United States

Anas
5.0 out of 5 stars great book
Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2024
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Great book, just got it in today very fast shipping as I requested. No damages on the book came in perfect condition as well without any issues. the book has no mistake when reading in it from words or any printing errors.
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Anas
5.0 out of 5 stars great book
Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2024
Great book, just got it in today very fast shipping as I requested. No damages on the book came in perfect condition as well without any issues. the book has no mistake when reading in it from words or any printing errors.
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Engracio abreu
5.0 out of 5 stars Book
Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2023
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Careful Shopper
5.0 out of 5 stars Fine translation and set of commentarial materials
Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2016
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Ordinarily the Norton Critical edition would be my favorite edition of a work, given all the additional materials offered, and this one is a fine entry in the series, worth five stars. I happen to prefer for scholarly purposes the Andrew George single volume edition, George being the scholar with the fine two volume critical edition of the text. But this one is quite fine and very helpful, and at a number of points I prefer the translation (to the degree I can make an informed judgement--based largely on the two texts mentioned).
25 people found this helpful
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Asha
5.0 out of 5 stars Very good book
Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2023
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Had to read it for school, enjoyed it very much.
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Dave_42
4.0 out of 5 stars New Translation
Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2004
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The Norton Critical Edition of "The Epic of Gilgamesh" is a fairly recent translation of what is currently the oldest known epic. The epic was translated by Benjamin R. Foster. The book also includes "The Sumerian Gilgamesh Poems", translated by Douglas Frayne, and "The Hittite Gilgamesh", translated by Gary Beckman. In addition, there is "The Gilgamesh Letter", several essays discussing the epic, and an Introduction section which helps those who are new to the Epic with their first reading. The translation uses the "standard version" associated with Sin-leqe-unninni as its base, and supplements it with parts from other versions where there are gaps. There are also comments in the text to help the reader follow the passages easier.

An area of weakness of this book was in the area of editorial comments. For example, Mr. Foster states in the introduction:

"There is no evidence that The Epic of Gilgamesh began as an oral narrative performed by bards or reciters and coalesced into a written text only later. In fact, the poem as we now have it shows many signs of having been a formal, written, literary work composed and perhaps performed for well-educated people, especially scholars and members of a royal court."

This is in sharp contrast with other opinions which I have read regarding the origins of the Epic. While it may be that there is no conclusive proof one way or another, there clearly is some evidence to support the theory that it did begin as an oral narrative, just as there is evidence that it may not have. If Mr. Foster completely disregards the evidence on the other side of the argument, then one is left to wonder if there are other "facts" provided by the editor that are equally suspect. When comparing this translation to those by Alexander Heidel and Stephanie Dalley, one can see significant differences at the start of the epic where the other editors use as evidence which suggests that this was an oral narrative originally. Mr. Foster's translation though is worded in a way that does not suggest an oral origin.

On the whole, this was a very readable translation of the Epic. The supplementary material included is also very good. While I may disagree with some of the editor's opinions about the history of the work and the way he presents the evidence, this is still a good choice to read.
69 people found this helpful
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Elle
5.0 out of 5 stars Good Translation and Scholarship
Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2015
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Translating the epic of Gilgamesh is even more difficult than other examples of ancient literature, simply because we do not have a complete version of the story. That said, this translation does a great job of presenting a coherent narrative, by blending together the most complete versions that do exist. The reader is aware of what episodes are missing from what versions, but overall the emphasis is on readability, and it pays off. I found myself getting caught up in the 4000-year-old tale, which still has the ability to move and excite even now.

The additional tales of Gilgamesh and the scholarship and criticism presented in this edition were also helpful in gaining perspective and context.
20 people found this helpful
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Sam
5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to read
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2011
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This is a great version of the timeless tale. The author has included brief summaries prior to each section so you will stay on track with what is happening. Also included are descriptions about how to interpret the story. This tale was written in a time very different than ours, the references and jokes do not make sense in modern time. This edition enlightens the reader about the time period so the story is in perspective and better understood.
5 people found this helpful
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Dotty Hayes
5.0 out of 5 stars Really enjoyed this edition. Well curated.
Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2021
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I was not familiar with this epic until I heard of it in passing. Really appreciated this edition for the historical background and footnotes. Well done.
One person found this helpful
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Dawn Wessel
5.0 out of 5 stars Good read from an experct in the field.
Reviewed in Canada on March 4, 2023
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The book is in excellent condition and I received it well before the promised due date.
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WeeMadA
5.0 out of 5 stars epica di gilgamesh
Reviewed in Italy on March 4, 2023
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nuova traduzione con altre aggiunte e nuove aggiunte alle traduzioni
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anama
5.0 out of 5 stars Informationreich
Reviewed in Germany on April 30, 2020
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EIne sorgfaeltige Ausgabe des Gilgamesch Epos mit vielen Informationen und Variationen aus der verschiedenen Voelker Mesopotamiens. Die Uebersetzung ist fliessend und verstaendlich .
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Paulo Leite
5.0 out of 5 stars A interminável busca do homem pela vida eterna
Reviewed in Brazil on October 22, 2016
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Quatro mil anos se passaram desde que foi escrito em argila, e mesmo assim o “Épico de Gilgamesh” continua fascinando os leitores contemporâneos, com seu líder Gilgamesh, rei de Uruk – primeira cidade histórica do mundo –, e seu companheiro – o “selvagem” Enkidu. O épico inicialmente chamou a atenção dos críticos bíblicos pela descrição do dilúvio – reportado muito antes do antigo testamento. Igualmente fascinante foi a abordagem do conflito entre deuses, a luta do homem com a natureza, e o reconhecimento de sua própria mortalidade; espelhando assim a eterna tentativa do homem em achar o seu lugar na sociedade e dentro do cosmos; muito parecido com os dilemas encontrados nos poemas de Homero, Hamlet e Eclesiastes, certo? Além de abordar importantes temas metafísicos, o épico narra a saga de dois amigos, Gilgamesh e Enkidu; a devoção recíproca, que persiste mesmo após a morte. Em suma, o épico contém tudo o que os leitores esperam de uma grande e intensa narrativa: paisagens fantásticas (em nossa imaginação), personagens exóticos, missões desgastantes, viagens difíceis, batalhas heroicas, seres sobrenaturais. Gilgamesh é, acima de tudo, a emocionante estória de um herói épico que se levanta para cada desafio com grande coragem e determinação.
# Por juntar fragmentos de narrativas de antigas versões, esta edição é bem mais completa e tem a minha predileção.
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Paulo Leite
5.0 out of 5 stars A interminável busca do homem pela vida eterna
Reviewed in Brazil on October 22, 2016
Quatro mil anos se passaram desde que foi escrito em argila, e mesmo assim o “Épico de Gilgamesh” continua fascinando os leitores contemporâneos, com seu líder Gilgamesh, rei de Uruk – primeira cidade histórica do mundo –, e seu companheiro – o “selvagem” Enkidu. O épico inicialmente chamou a atenção dos críticos bíblicos pela descrição do dilúvio – reportado muito antes do antigo testamento. Igualmente fascinante foi a abordagem do conflito entre deuses, a luta do homem com a natureza, e o reconhecimento de sua própria mortalidade; espelhando assim a eterna tentativa do homem em achar o seu lugar na sociedade e dentro do cosmos; muito parecido com os dilemas encontrados nos poemas de Homero, Hamlet e Eclesiastes, certo? Além de abordar importantes temas metafísicos, o épico narra a saga de dois amigos, Gilgamesh e Enkidu; a devoção recíproca, que persiste mesmo após a morte. Em suma, o épico contém tudo o que os leitores esperam de uma grande e intensa narrativa: paisagens fantásticas (em nossa imaginação), personagens exóticos, missões desgastantes, viagens difíceis, batalhas heroicas, seres sobrenaturais. Gilgamesh é, acima de tudo, a emocionante estória de um herói épico que se levanta para cada desafio com grande coragem e determinação.
# Por juntar fragmentos de narrativas de antigas versões, esta edição é bem mais completa e tem a minha predileção.
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5.0 out of 5 stars but needless to say I'm glad I did as it provides a really good translation ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 11, 2015
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I was a bit uncertain about buying this as the Penguin edition was a bit cheaper in my local store, but needless to say I'm glad I did as it provides a really good translation and supporting critical material to a very interesting text.
4 people found this helpful
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