The Epic of Gilgamesh: a recent book with that title?

Cafe Society
1

I’m doing my Christmas shopping and my sister sent me some suggestions for things my nieces might like. I was a little surprised to see one of my nieces wants a copy of the Epic of Gilgamesh.

Sure, it’s an ancient classic but it didn’t strike me as the kind of thing an eighteen year old would be interested in. So I considered the possibility that there was some recent young adult novel that used the same title. But I’ve checked on Amazon and Wikipedia and I can’t find anything like that.

So does anyone know if there’s some recent book titled The Epic of Gilgamesh?

2

Not as far as I know.

My parents have a copy of a book called The Babylonian Genesis which had the Epic of Gilgamesh and loads of annotations and mythological background on Sumerian and Akkadian beliefs. I first read that probably around the beginning of high school so if the niece has previously demonstrated an interest in the classics, mythology or history, I wouldn’t be surprised by her interest.

3

The Epic of Gilgamesh is referenced in quite a few pop culture works, as well as in general discussions of religion and mythology. It doesn’t surprise me at all that an 18-year-old would have heard about it and be interested in reading it for herself.

OTOH, it looks like it is available in a graphic novel.

4

My oldest sister gave me a copy of the Epic of Gilgamesh for my 12th birthday. Assuming it’s a decent translation it’s not a particularly difficult read. Actually, it’s a lot like a superhero/comic book tale. I’m not sure why an 18 year old requesting a copy would be that odd for the OP.

5

Because I’ve actually met my niece.

6

  1. If she really wants the Epic of Gilgamesh, there are lots of translations out there. The poem is relatively short, and a quick read. I’ve read several of them. I can recommend the N.K. Sandars translation from Penguin 9which I also have on audio) and the John Gardner translation. The Hidell translation is for scholars and masochists (and renders the “dirty” parts in Latin). There are lots of others, including some very recent ones I have not read.

  2. There are popular works with that title, and generally related to the ancient epic. None of them are really recent, though. I did a quick search to see if there was something really new, but came up blank.

  3. there’s a manga of that title ( Gilgamesh (manga) - Wikipedia ), but it’s from the late 70s. It was adapted as anime a decade ago. ( Gilgamesh | Manga - MyAnimeList.net )

  4. Robert Silverberg wrote the fantasy epic Gilgamesh the King, but it came out in the 80s ( Gilgamesh the King - Wikipedia )

  5. There’s the Gilgamesh Trilogy, of which I know nothing. It seems to be picture books ( http://www.amazon.com/Gilgamesh-King-The-Trilogy/dp/0887764371 )

  6. Wikipedia lists a bunch of works here: Gilgamesh (disambiguation) - Wikipedia
    My suggestion: get more information. There’s a huge range of things here, and you run a serious risk of getting something not remotely correct.