The Iliad is one of the oldest surviving works of western literature-and widely considered one of the best. But many questions remain unanswered about the origin of this classical epic poem. Was the Iliad written by a blind Greek poet named Homer, as people have long believed? If such a man actually existed, who was he, and why did ancient scholars who celebrated his work know so little about him? Was the Iliad composed and recited orally? If so, how did it come to be written? Do the ancient Hittite records preserve historical evidence of the Trojan War? In this book, author Manuel Robbins explores these mysteries and sets forth the evidence.