Gilgamesh

Description

Three thousand years ago, a Sumerian epic was inscribed on twelve clay tablets, the exalted verse tale of a king of Uruk, a king 'surpassing all other kings'. It tells the story of his great building projects, of a great flood, and of his doomed friendship with the wild man Enkiddu, their violent adventures on Mount Lebanon and Enkiddu's death. Gilgamesh, inconsolable, journeys to the Underworld to rescue his friend and find eternal life, but he discovers instead the bitter truth that all men must die.

Michael Schmidt is the founder of Carcanet Press and the general editor of PN Review. He was until recently Professor of Poetry at the University of Glasgow. He has also been Writer in Residence at St John's College, Cambridge.

PRAISE FOR MICHAEL SCHMIDT: 'An important new study' Observer. 'Engagingly knockabout ... enjoyable stuff' Spectator. 'Exhilarating ... informed and deeply engaging ... difficult to imagine a better introduction to its subject' Washington Post.