The Story

The Greek army has been camped outside Troy for nine long years, and they're getting restless. After a plague hits their camp, the prophet Calchas reveals the cause: their leader, King Agamemnon, insulted a priest of the god Apollo. To make things right, Agamemnon has to return the priest's daughter. But he's not happy about it. To compensate for his loss, he demands to take the war prize of his best fighter, Achilles. This is Briseis, a woman Achilles cares for deeply.

Achilles is utterly humiliated. His honor, the most important thing to a warrior, is stripped away. In a rage, he refuses to fight any longer for Agamemnon. He even asks his mother, the sea goddess Thetis, to plead with Zeus to let the Trojans win, just so Agamemnon will realize how much he needs Achilles. The book ends with the gods in Olympus arguing about the whole mess, while the Greeks face a future without their greatest champion.

Why You Should Read It

This first book is a masterclass in setting up a conflict. It’s not about armies clashing; it’s about ego clashing. You see these mythical heroes acting in painfully human ways: jealous, stubborn, and proud. Agamemnon is a terrible boss, and Achilles's wounded pride feels completely relatable, even if his power is godlike. What grabs me is how personal it all is. The fate of nations rests on a personal insult, which makes the story feel immediate and raw, not dusty and ancient.

Final Verdict

This translation into modern verse is the perfect gateway into Homer. If you've ever been intimidated by epic poetry, start here. It’s for anyone who loves a character-driven drama full of high stakes and flawed, fascinating people. You don't need to know a thing about Greek mythology to get hooked by the sheer human drama of it all. It’s the explosive beginning to the greatest war story ever told.