The Epic of Gilgamesh: A Poetic Version offers a readable edition for this ancient tale that is seldom read. The story relates how King Gilgamesh develops his humanity from a tyrant to a man capable of compassion and genuine love.
First, King Gilgamesh must discover friendship, which comes through a beast-like man known by the country folks as Enkidu. Both Gilgamesh and Enkidu complement each other, providing the missing part of their humanness to the other. The two men share several adventures until Enkidu is mortally wounded.
Now Gilgamesh must bare the sorrow of the death of his friend. Yet he refuses to accept the finality of death and decides to search for the source of eternal life. His search for eternal life leads Gilgamesh to strange lands as he meets some very interesting people. The wise Utnapishtim offers his version of the biblical flood and provides Gilgamesh the key to everlasting life.
Even though being he earliest examples of literature, The Epic of Gilgamesh remains timeless, because the tale speaks to the soul about the human condition and the desire to have purpose in life. The author set out to write this edition suitable for all readers, both young and old. The text is written in iambic pentameter and includes twenty (20) full-size color illustrations.