Epic Poems for an Epic Month

The Aeneid by Virgil

My pick: The Aeneid (Virgil, translated by Robert Fitzgerald)
This narrative follows Aeneas, a Trojan prince who escapes Troy and becomes the ancestor of the Romans. As Rome's national epic, it shaped Western literature and influenced writers (especially Dante) due to its emphasis on leadership, empire, and history.

Beowulf 

My pick: Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary: Together with Sellic Spell (J.R.R. Tolkien; edited by Christopher Tolkien)
This Old English epic follows the story of a legendary Scandinavian hero who battles monsters and a dragon. It is one of the most important works of early English literature. I was speaking with our Director of Collections, Eric Wolf, who raised an interesting question: What is the true identity of Grendel's mother?

Cantar de mío Cid (The Poem of the Cid)

My pick: Poem of the Cid (Hispanic Society of America)
The epic is the oldest preserved Castilian epic, telling the story of the medieval Spanish hero Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, known as El Cid. Set in the 11th century, it reflects the conflicts between Castile and the Taifa principalities of Al-Andalus and is considered Spain's national epic.

Chanson de Roland

My pick: The Song of Roland (translated, with an introduction, by W.S. Merwin; notes, glossary, and select bibliography by M.A. Clermont-Ferrand)
Stands as the first and most iconic example of the chanson de geste, a genre that celebrates heroic deeds. It is not only a cornerstone of medieval French literature but also reflects the evolving sense of French national identity during the Middle Ages.

The Conference of the Birds by Farid ud-Din Attar

My pick: The Conference of the Birds (Farid ud-Din Attar, translated with an introduction by Afkham Darbandi and Dick Davis)
By the author commonly known as Attar of Nishapur, The Conference of the Birds is an allegorical Sufi poem composed of numerous smaller poems. It guides the reader on the path to Truth, teaching that true knowledge of God comes only through the complete surrender of the self. (I’m not sure if it’s an epic poem, but it’s one of my favorites.)

Divina Commedia (The Divine Comedy) by Dante Alighieri

My pick: The translations by Robert Hollander
Widely regarded as the pre-eminent work in Italian literature and one of the greatest achievements in Western literature. Its vivid depiction of the afterlife reflects the medieval Christian worldview, while also helping to establish Tuscan as the standardized Italian language.

The Epic of Gilgamesh

My pick: Gilgamesh: A New Translation of the Ancient Epic, with Essays on the Poem, its Past, and its Passion (Sophus Helle) 
This ancient Mesopotamian poem is considered the earliest recorded epic of all time. Its author remains unknown, as does its intended audience, but it tells a tale of tragedy, lust, and the search for immortality.

The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser

My pick: The Faerie Queene (Edmund Spenser, introduction by J.W. Hales)
This six-book allegorical romantic narrative follows knights to explore various virtues, with King Arthur of the Round Table making an appearance! It was highly celebrated in the Elizabethan period (both a tribute to Queen Elizabeth I and a criticism). It can be a long poem; however, it's worth the read.

The Homeric Poems: The Iliad and The Odyssey 

My pick for Iliad: The Iliad (Homer, translated by Robert Fagles; introduction and notes by Bernard Knox) 
My pick for Odyssey: The Odyssey (Homer, translated by Robert Fagles; introduction and notes by Bernard Knox) 
Or try the translations by Emily Wilson - or graphic novel adaptations by Gareth Hinds! 

Honestly, my favorite epics of all time. They each are major foundational works of Western literature, blending myth, heroism, and divine intervention. They explore themes of fate, honor, and the human condition, deeply influencing narrative structure and character development in epic storytelling.

The Kalevala

Sayer Holliday’s pick: The Kalevala: An Epic Poem After Oral Tradition (Elias Lönnrot; translated from the Finnish with an introduction and notes by Keith Bosley and a foreword by Albert B. Lord) 
Collected by Elias Lönnrot from Karelian and Finnish oral folklore and mythology, The Kalevala is a 19th-century epic poem that tells the story of the Creation, conflicts between the lands of Kalevala and Pohjola, and the mythical Sampo. Regarded as Finland's national epic, it played a key role in shaping Finnish identity and independence while also influencing works like J.R.R. Tolkien's mythopoetic legendarium.  

The Mabinogi

My pick: The Mabinogion (translated with an introduction and notes by Sioned Davies)
This extraordinary collection contains early Welsh prose stories, compiled in the 12th–13th centuries, blending drama, fantasy, and philosophy. It includes eleven diverse tales, with the Four Branches forming a core sequence, offering unique versions of Arthurian legends and heroic quests. 

The Mahābhārata

My pick:  The Mahābhārata (translated and edited by J.A.B. van Buitenen)
Often called "The Great Indian Tale," it is the longest epic poem ever written. It tells the story of the Kurukshetra War and the succession conflict between the Kauravas and Pāṇḍavas. Additionally, it utilizes the "story within a story" structure, otherwise known as frametales, which is quite popular in many Indian religious and non-religious works.

Metamorphoses by Ovid

My pick: Metamorphoses (Ovid, translated and with notes by Charles Martin; introduction by Bernard Knox)
Ovid's Metamorphoses, written in 8 CE, is a Latin narrative poem that chronicles the world's history from creation to Julius Caesar's deification. It intertwines over 250 myths in a mythic-historical framework. It is considered his magnum opus.  

The Nibelungenlied

My pick: The Nibelungenlied (translated by William Nanson Lettsom, with a special introduction by William H. Carpenter)
An epic poem written around 1200 in Middle High German, draws from Germanic heroic legends with roots in 5th and 6th-century history. It shares parallels with Scandinavian tales like the Poetic Edda and the Völsunga saga.

Omeros by Derek Walcott

Derek Walcott's Omeros (1990) is an epic poem divided into seven books, loosely echoing Homer's Iliad while focusing on post-colonial themes. The work references key Homeric characters, blending Caribbean identity with classical influences. 
Fun fact: Saint Lucia was called "the Helen of the West Indies" in the 18th century due to its strategic location and frequent change of control between the French and English, who fought over the island’s significance in North American trade.

Paradise Lost by John Milton

My pick: Paradise Lost (John Milton, introduced by Philip Pullman)
John Milton's Paradise Lost (first published in 1667) tells the biblical story of Adam and Eve's fall, temptation by Satan, and expulsion from Eden. The epic, considered Milton's masterpiece, was revised in 1674 and solidified his legacy as one of the greatest English poets.

Ramayana

My pick: The Ramayana (Ramesh Menon)
The Rāmāyaṇa, one of Hinduism's two major epics, narrates the life of Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu. It follows his exile, the kidnapping of his wife Sita by Ravana, and Rama's journey to rescue her, culminating in his return to Ayodhya to be crowned king.

Shahnameh (The Book of Kings) by Abolqasem Ferdowsi

My pick: Shahnameh: The Persian Book of Kings (Abolqasem Ferdowsi, translated by Dick Davis with a foreword by Azar Nafisi)
The Shahnameh, written by the Persian poet Ferdowsi between 977 and 1010 CE, is the national epic of Greater Iran and one of the longest epic poems by a single author. It chronicles the mythical and historical past of the Persian Empire from creation to the Muslim conquest, shaping Persian cultural identity.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 

My pick: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: A Comedy for Christmas (translated by Theodore Silverstein, illustrated by Virgil Burnett)
A late 14th-century chivalric romance in Middle English alliterative verse, is one of the best-known Arthurian tales. Combining folk motifs like the beheading game and exchange of winnings, it blends Welsh, Irish, English, and French traditions. The poem explores the hero's quest, testing his bravery and honor, and is a key example of chivalric romance.

Táin Bó Cúailnge (also known as The Tain) 

My pick: The Táin: A New Translation of the Táin bó Cúailnge (translated and with an introduction by Ciaran Carson)
The Táin Bó Cúailnge, often called "the Irish Iliad," is an epic from Irish mythology that blends prose with verse. It narrates Queen Medb and King Ailill's war against Ulster to steal the stud bull Donn Cuailnge, with the young demigod Cú Chulainn defending the land.