The Last Quest of Gilgamesh

Lisa Arsenault is an elementary-school teacher in Ajax, Ontario.

In this third instalment of the Gilgamesh trilogy (Gilgamesh the King
was the first and The Revenge of Ishtar the second), the hero fulfils
his vow to search for the secret of immortality. His quest takes him to
the kingdom of the sun and across a burning desert and the waters of
death. He encounters many fearsome creatures and is put to many
difficult tests. Although a complete work in itself, the text flows
seamlessly from the first volumes, with reappearances by both Enkidu and
Shamhat. Ishtar, the villain of the second volume, foils Gilgamesh’s
attempt to acquire the secret of youth. The circle is completed when, in
the concluding pages, we are returned to Gilgamesh’s beloved city of
Uruk.

The narrative gives fitting expression to Gilgamesh’s status as the
first hero in Western literature. Rather than simply recounting a string
of adventures, Zeman makes Gilgamesh come alive for the reader. We
empathize with his determination, frustration, courage, and compassion.
The artwork is superb. Babylonian designs and intricate borders
embellish the lush and exotic illustrations. Highly recommended.