'Gilgamesh' is the story of the godlike ruler of the ancient Mesopotamian city Uruk. The start of the poem finds Gilgamesh as a brutal tyrant, whose potency is unmatched and unchecked. The god Aruru fashions him a match, a wild man called Enkidu, who fights the ruler but soon becomes Gilgamesh's beloved companion and friend. The story of their shared heroism, the pain of Enkidu's untimely death, and of Gilgamesh's quest for immortality was told across a series of cuneiform clay tablets. It is said to be the oldest recorded literary work. David Ferry's elegant verse rendering transmutes the ancient epic into the language of our time.
| ISBN: | 9781250437594 |
| Publication date: | 15th June 2026 |
| Author: | David Ferry |
| Publisher: | Picador |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Pagination: | 112 pages |
| Genres: |
Ancient, classical and medieval texts Poetry by individual poets |
'Gilgamesh' is the story of the godlike ruler of the ancient Mesopotamian city Uruk. The start of the poem finds Gilgamesh as a brutal tyrant, whose potency is unmatched and unchecked. The god Aruru fashions him a match, a wild man called Enkidu, who fights the ruler but soon becomes Gilgamesh's beloved companion and friend. The story of their shared heroism, the pain of Enkidu's untimely death, and of Gilgamesh's quest for immortality was told across a series of cuneiform clay tablets. It is said to be the oldest recorded literary work. David Ferry's elegant verse rendering transmutes the ancient epic into the language of our time.
Gilgamesh features in the following genres: Ancient, classical and medieval texts, Poetry by individual poets
Gilgamesh is available in Paperback
Gilgamesh was written by David Ferry and published by Picador
Gilgamesh has 112 pages
£12.59