Book publisher Faber revealed on Tuesday that it will publish a new verse translation of the ancient epic Gilgamesh by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage on 8 October 2026.

This work revisits the nearly 4,000-year-old Mesopotamian poem, which follows the demigod Gilgamesh of Uruk and his companion Enkidu as they undertake a series of mythic adventures before Gilgamesh embarks on a solitary quest for immortality following tragedy.

The publisher said Armitage's translation brings the epic into contemporary poetic form, supported by commentary aimed at enhancing its accessibility for modern readers. It forms part of his wider body of acclaimed translation work.

Faber poetry editor Lavinia Singer described the edition as a significant reinterpretation of one of the world's oldest surviving literary texts, highlighting its ambition and contemporary resonance.