Praise for the First Edition: "Dazzling. . . . Manguel, who has read everything, will tell you where to find traces of the original–the Helen, the Cyclops, the Circe, the horse–in Icelandic sagas, fourteenth century
danse macabre, Fellini's
8 1/2, Bergman's
The Seventh Seal, and
Jack and the Beanstalk. He devotes chapters to Homer as poetry, history, symbol, everyman, in translation and in Islam. And he himself writes like a dream of antiquity."–John Leonard,
Harper's Magazine "[Manguel] brings both his passion for books and his fluency as a writer to this engaging study. . . . Highly recommended for general readers."–T. L. Cooksey,
Library Journal "Nothing less than a history of literature itself."–Tom Holland,
The Spectator "Brief but rich history of a mysterious bard and two wondrous works that serve as foundation for Western culture."–
Kirkus Reviews
