About the work

Stanley William Hayter illustrated the book-length poem Death of Hektor by Irish poet Brian Coffey. This poem is a dramatic reinterpretation of Homer’s epic tale from The Iliad. Rather than embrace the traditional view of Achilles as the embodiment of honor, glory, and fame, Coffey and Hayter portray the Greek hero-warrior as a violent and vengeful soldier—his mindless and brutal actions during and after the murder of the Trojan prince Hektor belying his tragic hero status. In this, they challenge the glorification of the culture of war—violence, destruction, and death—elevating the importance of a morally-conscious Hektor, while stressing Homer’s deep insight into the human condition.

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