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1JuliusC
No pics yet both signed by the Illustrator and Translator
1200 copies $296 / 4x74
http://www.eastonpress.com/prod/6EF/3113/GILGAMESH
1200 copies $296 / 4x74
http://www.eastonpress.com/prod/6EF/3113/GILGAMESH
2HugoDumas
You can get the Mitchell translation for 92 cents TPB on Amazon. It all comes down to how beautiful the book is as well as the illustrations....not to mention if this work is near and dear to your heart.
3astropi
:O
I wanna see pics!!!
and nice job to have the book signed by both translator and illustrator. Now if we only had a time machine we could get the author(s) signature(s) :P
I wanna see pics!!!
and nice job to have the book signed by both translator and illustrator. Now if we only had a time machine we could get the author(s) signature(s) :P
4jroger1
>3 astropi:
I like the idea of a modern translation with (presumably) a modern font, but, like you, I wanna see pics.
I like the idea of a modern translation with (presumably) a modern font, but, like you, I wanna see pics.
7HugoDumas
>5 supercell: the artwork is quite intriguing. I probably should download a free copy to see if I like this epic before even considering this purchase.
Understand that Mitchell's work is not considered a scholarly translation, but a reworking to make it more accessible to the masses. The scholars all suggest Andrew George's scholarly work. Here is a PDF copy for your iReader if you are interested. Meanwhile Wikipedia has a good summary of this epic which probably inspired sections of the Old Testament. There are a few other free downloads by other scholars.
https://d3jc3ahdjad7x7.cloudfront.net/NRUTVm6ZhlKhuLUJiV0EMwP1RzD8YcWzShoETQ3DN3...
Understand that Mitchell's work is not considered a scholarly translation, but a reworking to make it more accessible to the masses. The scholars all suggest Andrew George's scholarly work. Here is a PDF copy for your iReader if you are interested. Meanwhile Wikipedia has a good summary of this epic which probably inspired sections of the Old Testament. There are a few other free downloads by other scholars.
https://d3jc3ahdjad7x7.cloudfront.net/NRUTVm6ZhlKhuLUJiV0EMwP1RzD8YcWzShoETQ3DN3...
9astropi
Oh my gosh, the artwork is gorgeous! Truly wonderful. Sadly, I have a feeling that EP will NOT produce it with gold leaf (although maybe I'm mistaken). However, the pic below does not look gold leaf promising.
Still, I may get this. The artwork is so good. Looks much better than the FS edition, which is still nice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6W5YqgiBuU
By the way, I actually have an unopened copy of the FS edition if anyone is looking for one :P
Still, I may get this. The artwork is so good. Looks much better than the FS edition, which is still nice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6W5YqgiBuU
By the way, I actually have an unopened copy of the FS edition if anyone is looking for one :P
10astropi
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2004/nov/14/classics.features
"Mitchell brings a lucid and poetic version of Gilgamesh to a literary rather than academic audience. He confines his own agenda to a partisan introduction. Compared to Wolfgang Peterson's contemporary adaptation of the Iliad, where realpolitik replaces the gods, Mitchell allows the ancients a chance to speak for themselves."
"Mitchell brings a lucid and poetic version of Gilgamesh to a literary rather than academic audience. He confines his own agenda to a partisan introduction. Compared to Wolfgang Peterson's contemporary adaptation of the Iliad, where realpolitik replaces the gods, Mitchell allows the ancients a chance to speak for themselves."
11cu29640
Where is there a pic making the gold leaf not look real? Hopefully they could keep the gold leaf but leave off hand marbling and tipped in illustrations.
12jroger1
>11 cu29640:
The description on EP's web site is carefully worded in such a way as not to promise gold leaf in the reproductions: "Stunning illustrations by Rebecca Yanovskaya – originally done in ink and gold - capture the essence of this ancient epic." I suspect it would be much more expensive if it had real gold in them thar pages.
The description on EP's web site is carefully worded in such a way as not to promise gold leaf in the reproductions: "Stunning illustrations by Rebecca Yanovskaya – originally done in ink and gold - capture the essence of this ancient epic." I suspect it would be much more expensive if it had real gold in them thar pages.
14kdweber
There is no way a $300 DLE from EP is going to use real gold or even metal foil but it still seems like an intriguing endeavor. I wish they would show some pictures on the website and let us know how many Yanovskaya illustrations will be include in the edition. I'm not a big fan of the FS edition. There's a good chance that I'll pick this one up.
15jroger1
>13 astropi:
Who are you calling a fool, pilgrim?
Who are you calling a fool, pilgrim?
17jroger1
>16 JuliusC:
Outstanding illustrations. As usual, though, there is no photo of a printed page, making me just a wee bit nervous.
Outstanding illustrations. As usual, though, there is no photo of a printed page, making me just a wee bit nervous.
18unclesamme
I just ordered mine. This poem is a powerful reminder of hopelessness in living life without faith.
19astropi
Interior pics are up! And things are lookin':
http://www.g-shock.co.uk/news/casio-g-shock-announces-new-series-of-crazy-gold-w...
http://www.g-shock.co.uk/news/casio-g-shock-announces-new-series-of-crazy-gold-w...
20HugoDumas
>12 jroger1: Originally done in gold and ink means nothing nor do the website images. Simply look at Uncle Tom's Cabin 1853 illustrated edition originally done in subtle 256 grey tones, and now done in crude scanned black and white.
I will wait for your reviews.
I will wait for your reviews.
21jroger1
>20 HugoDumas:
I'll wait for reviews too. Although I'm optimistic about this one, I want to be sure that a small text block isn't scrunched into one corner of the page as in Pride and Prejudice, or that the lettering isn't as huge as it is in Idylls of the King. Experience dictates caution until I see a printed page.
I'll wait for reviews too. Although I'm optimistic about this one, I want to be sure that a small text block isn't scrunched into one corner of the page as in Pride and Prejudice, or that the lettering isn't as huge as it is in Idylls of the King. Experience dictates caution until I see a printed page.
22cu29640
It might be metallic gold ink like the Owen Jones book of prayer and Froissarts Chronicals
23jroger1
Mine arrived today, and I am impressed. The gold (ink?) is just as bright in person as it is on the web site. The cover and endpaper illustrations are spectacular, making this one of EP's most impressive DLEs.
24jroger1
>10 astropi:
Mitchell himself calls it a version rather than a translation and acknowledges that he does not even know the original languages. Rather, he has read 7 translations, relying especially on A. R. George's, then "cobbled together a rough prose version," from which he wrote the poetic story.
"I filled in the many gaps in the text; I changed images that were unclear; I added lines when the drama of the situation called for elaboration or when passages ended abruptly and needed transitions; I cut out a number of fragmentary passages; and when the text was garbled, I occasionally changed the order of the passages. All these changes are documented in the notes."
In other words, this is a version to be read for pleasure rather than to be studied seriously.
Mitchell himself calls it a version rather than a translation and acknowledges that he does not even know the original languages. Rather, he has read 7 translations, relying especially on A. R. George's, then "cobbled together a rough prose version," from which he wrote the poetic story.
"I filled in the many gaps in the text; I changed images that were unclear; I added lines when the drama of the situation called for elaboration or when passages ended abruptly and needed transitions; I cut out a number of fragmentary passages; and when the text was garbled, I occasionally changed the order of the passages. All these changes are documented in the notes."
In other words, this is a version to be read for pleasure rather than to be studied seriously.
25booksforreading
>23 jroger1:
Thank you for this post! I have now ordered the book, too.
Thank you for this post! I have now ordered the book, too.
26katielouise
Glad to hear it is nice. I have been waiting for someone to receive and post about it before ordering. I quite like the pictures.
27cu29640
So it does have gold metallic ink rather than a picture of gold ink? Please share a pic. I just looked at this again on the Easton Press site. looks like the description grew in detail.
28jroger1
>17 jroger1:
I'm afraid my photography would make you not want the book, but good photos would look just like the ones on EP's website. I can't tell for sure if it is real ink or not, but probably not at this price. Nevertheless, the reproduction is superb.
I'm afraid my photography would make you not want the book, but good photos would look just like the ones on EP's website. I can't tell for sure if it is real ink or not, but probably not at this price. Nevertheless, the reproduction is superb.
29cu29640
Well it could be...the book of prayer and Froissarts uses a good bit of gold ink and they are cheaper than this book..per the book. The real test would be a close look...gold ink wouldn't have dot gradations as in a color photo...it would be flat and solid.
30jroger1
>29 cu29640:
I've examined both Froissart and Gilgamesh under a magnifying glass, and they look different. The gold coloring in Froissart is smooth, but Gilgamesh has lines (not dots), similar to woodcut lines, throughout the gold. Except for the cover design of Gilgamesh which is smooth. The gold in Gilgamesh is brighter, more vibrant, than the more subtle tone in Froissart. I'm no expert and don't know what this all means, but I hope it helps.
I've examined both Froissart and Gilgamesh under a magnifying glass, and they look different. The gold coloring in Froissart is smooth, but Gilgamesh has lines (not dots), similar to woodcut lines, throughout the gold. Except for the cover design of Gilgamesh which is smooth. The gold in Gilgamesh is brighter, more vibrant, than the more subtle tone in Froissart. I'm no expert and don't know what this all means, but I hope it helps.
31Arknight
I have always wanted EP to print The Epic of Gilgamesh, but in a way, I wish this looked more 'antique'. Maybe it's just me. Anyway, I'm still on the fence on this one.
32HugoDumas
I am only interested if EP publishes facsimiles of the original clay tablets enclosed in a leather clamshell case.
33jroger1
>32 HugoDumas:
That would take a lot of clams in both senses of the word.
This is the first purchase I've made from EP in more than 6 months because the price/quality ratio hasn't been to my liking. Gilgamesh is a welcome exception. I have a collection of "nice" editions of many ancient and medieval epics/sagas, etc. - from both EP and FS - so I'm happy to add this one.
That would take a lot of clams in both senses of the word.
This is the first purchase I've made from EP in more than 6 months because the price/quality ratio hasn't been to my liking. Gilgamesh is a welcome exception. I have a collection of "nice" editions of many ancient and medieval epics/sagas, etc. - from both EP and FS - so I'm happy to add this one.
34HugoDumas
>33 jroger1: sorry for the sarcasm. Actually I should read the Penguin version which I posted in >7 HugoDumas: before judging since it is attractive.
35katielouise
Is the gold shiny? That's what I care about. lol.
36jroger1
>35 katielouise:
Very shiny indeed, and decorative! In fact, you could detach the front cover and wear it as a pendant.
Very shiny indeed, and decorative! In fact, you could detach the front cover and wear it as a pendant.
37kdweber
>36 jroger1: I disagree, I don't find the gold color in the illustrations very shiny at all. I find the color on the page to be much less gold-like than on the illustrations on the website.
My first impressions are mixed, very nice paper and dark readable text. Well designed and laid out, very easy to read. Good size, large but easy to handle. A nice tipped in signature page. No production information is provided; e.g. we don't know who printed or bound the book. I wonder if this is a new trend for the EP? The leather is obviously much lower quality than in previous EP DLEs. Either pig leather or bonded leather imprinted with a fake texture. It looks and feels rather like vinyl. EP assures us that it is "genuine" leather - whatever that means.
My first impressions are mixed, very nice paper and dark readable text. Well designed and laid out, very easy to read. Good size, large but easy to handle. A nice tipped in signature page. No production information is provided; e.g. we don't know who printed or bound the book. I wonder if this is a new trend for the EP? The leather is obviously much lower quality than in previous EP DLEs. Either pig leather or bonded leather imprinted with a fake texture. It looks and feels rather like vinyl. EP assures us that it is "genuine" leather - whatever that means.
38jroger1
>37 kdweber:
I noticed the lack of information that is usually printed on the signature page, and wondered why. No longer does it claim to be Italian cowhide and does not name the printer, although the website claims it is printed and bound in the USA. It was shipped from Tennessee. The website also says it is bound in "genuine leather," a term that has a technical meaning that should preclude anything bonded, but that claim is not mentioned on the colophon page itself.
Nevertheless, I stand by my claim that it is a beautiful book containing shiny or "bright" gold (or gold-colored ink) that would make a good pair of cufflinks.
I noticed the lack of information that is usually printed on the signature page, and wondered why. No longer does it claim to be Italian cowhide and does not name the printer, although the website claims it is printed and bound in the USA. It was shipped from Tennessee. The website also says it is bound in "genuine leather," a term that has a technical meaning that should preclude anything bonded, but that claim is not mentioned on the colophon page itself.
Nevertheless, I stand by my claim that it is a beautiful book containing shiny or "bright" gold (or gold-colored ink) that would make a good pair of cufflinks.
39kdweber
>38 jroger1: Yes, from the Tennessee shipping address one might infer the Falcon Press and Kingsport Binding.
40iluvbeckett
>39 kdweber:: Is BindTech also located in Tennessee? One (i.e., me) recalls some BindTech vs. Kingsport debate in previous threads, with Kingsport the winner...so one (i.e., me - though I have no dog in this fight since I've no interest in this DLE) would hope it's done by Kingsport. Interesting and a trifle troubling that EP has supplied no info on the sig page for this.
41kdweber
>40 iluvbeckett: Good point, BindTech is also located in Tennessee. The book looks/feels like a BindTech job to me.
42booksforreading
I have just received the book. Yes, the leather does not look the same as, say, in Tarzan DLE, but it still seems to me that the leather is of a better quality than that in EP regular offerings. I think that the book overall is very beautiful. I love the paper; the binding and the slipcase seem to be done very well, and the illustrations are wonderful in my opinion.
I am happy.
I am happy.
43kdweber
>42 booksforreading: One of the nicest papers I've seen from the EP. I feel the leather binding is about the same quality of a regular EP edition. Nice slipcase, though.
45booksforreading
>44 cu29640:
To my non-professional eye, the illustrations inside of the book are definitely reproductions - no real gold. I think that reproductions are of a good quality, but I have not seen the originals...
The coloring on the cover in black, red, and gold is similar to decorations on the covers of the 4 volumes of Pyle's Stories of the Knights of the Round Table. The quality of the gold on the covers of the two books is different: Pyle's covers are shinier, but, as the famous proverb says, not everything that shines...
>43 kdweber:
On close examination of Gilgamesh and a book from Pyle's 4 volumes, the leather quality seems to be very similar in these two productions, though the grain on the DLE is smaller. I think that the leather on Pyle's volumes feels a tiny bit more plastic, but the difference is almost negligible. I am surely disappointed about the leather in the DEL, but still like the book.
To my non-professional eye, the illustrations inside of the book are definitely reproductions - no real gold. I think that reproductions are of a good quality, but I have not seen the originals...
The coloring on the cover in black, red, and gold is similar to decorations on the covers of the 4 volumes of Pyle's Stories of the Knights of the Round Table. The quality of the gold on the covers of the two books is different: Pyle's covers are shinier, but, as the famous proverb says, not everything that shines...
>43 kdweber:
On close examination of Gilgamesh and a book from Pyle's 4 volumes, the leather quality seems to be very similar in these two productions, though the grain on the DLE is smaller. I think that the leather on Pyle's volumes feels a tiny bit more plastic, but the difference is almost negligible. I am surely disappointed about the leather in the DEL, but still like the book.
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