Over the centuries, the greatest works of literature and the authors who penned them have shaped humankind, influenced culture and inspired generations with the power of words. With its heritage firmly anchored in the culture of writing, Montblanc has been honouring since 1992 the most distinguished writers and literary icons of past times with its annual Writers Edition. For its 27th edition, Montblanc celebrates Homer, the poet best known for the Iliad and The Odyssey, two monumental epics widely regarded as the foundation of Western literature. Often portrayed as a blind bard, this enigmatic figure probably lived in the second half of the 8th century B.C. and his works mark a unique period in Western history when the old oral tradition gave way to a new written tradition.
The Odyssey, Homer’s second epic about the
10-year journey undertaken by the hero Odysseus returning home from the Trojan War, has inspired the shape of the Montblanc Writers Edition, Homage To Homer. The story features a famous episode when the Greeks employed an ingenious strategy in the Trojan war — a huge wooden horse concealing Greeks soldiers within was instrumental in their victory over their Trojan enemies.
The Trojan horse, Odysseus’ famous stratagem, is reflected in the Edition’s silhouette evoking the head and body of the wooden horse in stylised form. The matte black precious resin of the cap and barrel of the writing instrument is paired with champagne-tone gold-coated fittings to echo the Greek black-figure pottery often decorated with scenes from Homeric poetry. The legendary spear of Achilles that no other hero fighting at Troy was willing to wield in Homer’s Iliad is the inspiration for the shape of the gold-coated clip, while Achilles’ helmet adorns the handcrafted gold nib as a fine engraving. The finely-engraved Greek meander frieze on the champagne gold-coated fittings of the writing instrument is a design reference to the six-footed structure of the hexameter, with every sixth pattern repeat emphasised by a cube ornament. Crowned with the Montblanc emblem in precious resin, the Writers Edition Homage to Homer is available as a fountain pen, roller ball and ballpoint pen, as well as a mechanical pen (only in a set).
Fine stationery and a new special ink colour complete the Writers Edition collection. Inspired by one of the most famous sculptures of Homer and the epic poem of The Odyssey with its Trojan horse, the lined notebook is made of leather in Greek blue. Often associated with the seas around Greece and the traditional houses, the
vibrant blue is also reflected in the colour of the ink and refills.
While Homer narrates the adventures of the great heroes of the distant past, his stories are timeless because the themes he addresses in both his epic works remain central to human civilisation — whether life or death, war or peace, happiness or misery, journeys away or returns home, he articulates what it means to be human.
Through artistry and emotion, his words continue to resonate today in the same way they did centuries ago.
The Montblanc Writers Edition Homage to Homer Limited Edition is available in Montblanc boutiques worldwide.
