Experience the Foundational Epics of Western Literature Like Never Before.Have you ever wanted to dive into the legendary tales of Achilles, Odysseus, and Aeneas, only to be intimidated by dense, ancient poetry? For centuries, the greatest stories of our world—tales of gods and monsters, of tragic love and the brutal reality of war—have felt inaccessible.The Lyceum Press is proud to change that.This collection brings together the cornerstones of the epic tradition, each presented in a subtitle that describes it as a modern prose version that is more accessible. This is not a literal, line-for-line poetic translation; it is a faithful narrative retelling designed to make the story's emotional core and narrative momentum accessible to a contemporary audience. We bridge the gap between the ancient poem and the modern reader, rendering these epics not as scholarly artifacts, but as the gripping, character-driven narratives they have always been.This collection includes:The Iliad: More than the story of a war, this is the story of a single, catastrophic human emotion: the rage of Achilles. Set in the final, brutal weeks of the Trojan War, Homer’s masterpiece is an unflinching look at honor, glory, and the devastating cost of a hero’s pride.The Odyssey: The archetypal story of the journey home, this is the tale of the cunning hero Odysseus and his twenty-year struggle to return to his kingdom. It is an epic about the triumph of intellect over chaos, a profound adventure through realms of myth and magic, and a meditation on the meaning of home.The Aeneid: What does a hero do when his world has turned to ash? Virgil gives us Aeneas, a refugee fleeing the graveyard of Troy, burdened by the ghosts of his past and the terrifying weight of a future he did not choose. His journey is defined by a relentless sense of duty (pietas) as he sacrifices his own heart to lay the foundation for the Roman Empire.Metamorphoses: Ovid’s sprawling masterpiece is a dazzling encyclopedia of Greco-Roman myth. Beginning with the creation of the world from chaos, this epic weaves together hundreds of tales of love, tragedy, and divine transformation. From the pride of mortals who challenge the gods to the passions that turn people into flowers, spiders, and stars, this is the definitive storybook of the ancient world.Inside Every Lyceum Press Edition, You Will Find:A Modern Prose Translation: Crafted for readability, our translations allow you to experience these stories as powerful and immediate human dramas.Illuminating Forewords: Each book includes a foreword that provides crucial historical and thematic context, preparing you for the journey ahead.Principal Characters & Glossaries: Easily keep track of the vast cast of mortals, gods, and monsters with helpful character lists, and understand key concepts like pietas, kleos, and xenia with detailed glossaries.Custom Maps: Visualize the Achaean World and the Plain of Troy with beautifully rendered maps included in the text.Perfect for new readers, students, and anyone looking to reconnect with the classics in a fresh and exciting way. Discover the stories that have shaped our world.