In this classic work, Robert Wood challenges the prevailing view of Homer as a primitive and uneducated bard and presents him as a learned poet, deeply engaged with the literary and cultural traditions of his time. Drawing on extensive scholarship and a close reading of the Iliad and the Odyssey, Wood offers a comprehensive picture of Homer's life, art, and legacy. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.