Gilgamesh the King

The "Epic of Gilgamesh" is an ancient epic Sumerian poem about the exploits of Gilgamesh, the greatest king of Uruk in Mesopotamia. It tells the tale of how he overworked his people to build a great kingdom, his friendship with the wild man Enkidu who was sent by the gods to distract him, his battles with the goddess Inanna, the earliest account of the great flood, and his journey seeking immortality. Silverberg's book is a novelization of the epic with some liberties taken, particularly the interaction with the gods. The result is a highly readable retelling of what is considered the first piece of literature in human history. I was completely engrossed in the book, both from an historical perspective and by the wonderful prose that Silverberg is known for.

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