Little is known for certain about the life of Homer, the Greek poet credited as the author of the great epics The Iliadand The Odyssey, although he is believed to have been born sometime between the twelfth and eighth centuries BC. The Odysseydescribes the trials of the hero Odysseus on his journey home to Ithaca following the Trojan War. It has had a huge influence on Western literature, inspiring extensive translations, poems, plays and novels. Jake Jackson(General Editor) has written, edited and contributed to over 20 books. Related works include studies of Babylonian creation myths, the philosophy to time and William Blake's use of mythology in his visionary literature.