The Epic of Gilgamesh by (unknown) tr. Andrew George (1999, ISBN 978-0-140-44919-8)

The Epic of Gilgamesh is a very old story. Copies of it have been found on clay tablets (cuneiform) that are 4000 years old. The copies of the Epic that have been found are incomplete. This book presents the Epic as it is, i.e., using the tablets that have been found and deciphered. Places where the text are incomplete are indicated.

This edition if the Epic is probably more difficult to read, but if you are interested you will get a better understand of what is known about the Epic.

Purchased from Amazon on 2010-12-19 for 9.60$
 

Gilgamesh, A New English Version by Stephen Mitchell. 2004 Free Press ISBN 0-7432-6164-X. This book is a re-telling of the Gilgamesh story. There is a 60 page introduction where the author discusses what he did and why. The story itself is around 140 page, but it is in verse form and double spaced, so it really isn't that long. There is also an extensive notes section where the author describe in detail the various choices made in writing this version. I found this version to be easy to read. I think Mitchell has retold the story in a way that makes it easier for the modern reader to understand. Purchased at Looking Glass Bookstore, 11-Oct-04, for 24.00.

The Epic Of Gilgamesh, tr. N. K. Sandars. 1972 revised edition. ISBN 0 14 044 100 X. I've owned this book for many years. Probably purchased at Powells. This is the oldest surviving written story. Contains a flood story similar to the one in Genesis. Because of the condition of the clay tablets that this story was written on, there are parts of the text that are missing. The translator in this version has filled in or smoothed over these rough spots, making the story easier to read. This is not a version for experts, but rather a version for the more average reader. I found the introduction very interesting because it explained the context in which this story was written.