I can't agree more with Steve about prose translations of verse including prose translations of Homer! 😊 I think in general prose translations are wonderful entry points into a classic like Homer or Dante. In fact, I often have the original verse alongside its prose translation. This way I can read the prose translation alongside the original language (e.g. classical Greek, Dante's Italian) and have the best of both worlds - the prose for understanding and the original verse for the "music" (e.g. dactylic hexameter, terza rima). 😊
What interesting timing. I just finished the Odyssey yesterday. And since I read the Iliad last year, I can finally say there’s an author whose work I’ve read all. Well, at least kind of, anyway.
I first read this as a young man on a plane during a work trip out West. My coworker couldn’t explain why I was reading a “school book” for fun. By the end of our 5 day trip as we departed to return home, he asked me to borrow it from my belaboring the incredible, if not snobby, experience of it throughout the trip. Excellent background information in this video. I had no idea about some of the history you shared.
@12:29 I am so glad you said this about Robert Graves on the Greek Myths. I have attempted that book so many times and reproached myself for getting bogged down in it, but it seemed insane.
My first exposure to Homer was actually Rieu's Odyssey, way back in high school. Much later I read Lombardo's take, but have still been meaning to read Fagle's and Pope's. So many translations, so little time!
I was just about to jump up and cry, as this video came to an end:" But wait! What about that which inspired Keats great Lines: Then felt I like some watcher of the skies When a new planet swims into his ken; Or like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes He star'd at the Pacific-and all his men Look'd at each other with a wild surmise- Silent, upon a peak in Darien. when you mentioned Chapman. What relief! AS for the invocation: What truth is there! Anger! That is the root of all or the great most of our woe here below, anger...and a bit of sloth.
Robert Graves insane? Well thanks for that thought! It was lovely to hear you talk about the aim of Penguin to make classics accessible. I have a few of their Pelican paperbacks too. Hard to imagine a mass market publisher putting out so much serious non-fiction in paperback today.
I bought the penguin deluxe editions a few years ago before moving to China because I wanted to finally read Homer. I found it difficult to get into at first but they won me over!
I love the Fagles deluxe editions - both as books and for the poetry. The Rieu translation completely defeated me as a child. I tracked down an old Victorian edition of Pope’s translation - I fancy giving it a try someday.
When I was younger, in the 80's, I read Rieu's complete Homer. I liked them. Then I read Lattimore's Iliad and was blown away!!! But still like Rieu's. Penguin released another prose translation in the 90's by Martin Hammond!! Was it??
Do you know anything about a translator named Emily Wilson? If so, do you have an opinion on her translations? I just impulse purchased her translation of The Odyssey and now I'm feeling nervous about it!
The Bookclectic Hi. He mentioned her before and praised her translation. I read The Odyssey with her translation and I really like it, it has a “modern” feeling. In her introduction, she explains why she made the choices she made. I hope this helps.
Whatever translator you viewers decide to go with, as someone who has read Lattimore’s translation, I urge you to not read the Lattimore version, it is truly abysmal. Choose any other translation!
I agree. I think Lattimore is overrated. According to Peter Jones' and Malcolm Wilcox's commentaries, there are a few, but significant outright errors that have been corrected by more recent translators in the last 30 years or so. Aso, his translation can be extremely awkward and stilted. If like myself you favor accuracy over poetic liberties and exaggerated embellishments, then you may want to consider translations by Caroline Alexander, Anthony Verity, Rodney Merrill, and Peter Green. All these translations have been reviewed by respected classicists and they have been noted for their scrupulous closeness to the original Greek. Rodney Merrill in particular has achieved the seemingly impossible by combining near scrupulous fidelity to the original and a brilliant Englishised and expressive poem. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
These Daily Penguins are now a necessary part of my day. Thank you.
Mine too!!
I really appreciate the translation comparisons
One of the best parts of my booktube day... penguin yes
I can't agree more with Steve about prose translations of verse including prose translations of Homer! 😊 I think in general prose translations are wonderful entry points into a classic like Homer or Dante. In fact, I often have the original verse alongside its prose translation. This way I can read the prose translation alongside the original language (e.g. classical Greek, Dante's Italian) and have the best of both worlds - the prose for understanding and the original verse for the "music" (e.g. dactylic hexameter, terza rima). 😊
What interesting timing. I just finished the Odyssey yesterday. And since I read the Iliad last year, I can finally say there’s an author whose work I’ve read all. Well, at least kind of, anyway.
I first read this as a young man on a plane during a work trip out West. My coworker couldn’t explain why I was reading a “school book” for fun. By the end of our 5 day trip as we departed to return home, he asked me to borrow it from my belaboring the incredible, if not snobby, experience of it throughout the trip. Excellent background information in this video. I had no idea about some of the history you shared.
@12:29 I am so glad you said this about Robert Graves on the Greek Myths. I have attempted that book so many times and reproached myself for getting bogged down in it, but it seemed insane.
My first exposure to Homer was actually Rieu's Odyssey, way back in high school. Much later I read Lombardo's take, but have still been meaning to read Fagle's and Pope's. So many translations, so little time!
I was just about to jump up and cry, as this video came to an end:" But wait! What about that which inspired Keats great Lines:
Then felt I like some watcher of the skies
When a new planet swims into his ken;
Or like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes
He star'd at the Pacific-and all his men
Look'd at each other with a wild surmise-
Silent, upon a peak in Darien.
when you mentioned Chapman. What relief!
AS for the invocation: What truth is there! Anger! That is the root of all or the great most of our woe here below, anger...and a bit of sloth.
Robert Graves insane? Well thanks for that thought!
It was lovely to hear you talk about the aim of Penguin to make classics accessible. I have a few of their Pelican paperbacks too. Hard to imagine a mass market publisher putting out so much serious non-fiction in paperback today.
It was interesting to hear the comparison of the versions. I have the first one you showed.
This was very helpful, it answered the question I came with and several others I didn't know I wanted answered.
I have seen a copy of Chapman's Homer in a local museum. A Penguin of it would be wonderful.
That is such a great book! Thank you for the video! I so enjoy the Daily Penguins.
I started learning Latin, I got quite far but then left it before it solidified. Wish I had carried on.
Steve, what do you think of Richmond Lattimore's translations of The Iliad and The Odyssey?
What a surprise, you are there after all. And yes, Homer. Good choice for a Saturday.
I bought the penguin deluxe editions a few years ago before moving to China because I wanted to finally read Homer. I found it difficult to get into at first but they won me over!
Always had a soft spot for The Odyssey. In sixth grade English, we read a juvenile version of it (or rather, we had it read to us)
Excellent video, informative and great humour too
I love the Fagles deluxe editions - both as books and for the poetry. The Rieu translation completely defeated me as a child. I tracked down an old Victorian edition of Pope’s translation - I fancy giving it a try someday.
When I was younger, in the 80's, I read Rieu's complete Homer. I liked them. Then I read Lattimore's Iliad and was blown away!!! But still like Rieu's. Penguin released another prose translation in the 90's by Martin Hammond!! Was it??
Can’t wait to re-visit these two bad boys in June and August.
Do you know anything about a translator named Emily Wilson? If so, do you have an opinion on her translations? I just impulse purchased her translation of The Odyssey and now I'm feeling nervous about it!
The Bookclectic Hi. He mentioned her before and praised her translation. I read The Odyssey with her translation and I really like it, it has a “modern” feeling. In her introduction, she explains why she
made the choices she made. I hope this helps.
@@laracroft1829 it does thank you! I probably didn't see that video. I just found his mid December!
Wordsworth classics has the Chapman translation.
Wonderful video!
What do you think of the Loeb Classics, with the original and an English translation on facing pages?
I generally like them quite well!
Whatever translator you viewers decide to go with, as someone who has read Lattimore’s translation, I urge you to not read the Lattimore version, it is truly abysmal. Choose any other translation!
I agree. I think Lattimore is overrated. According to Peter Jones' and Malcolm Wilcox's commentaries, there are a few, but significant outright errors that have been corrected by more recent translators in the last 30 years or so. Aso, his translation can be extremely awkward and stilted. If like myself you favor accuracy over poetic liberties and exaggerated embellishments, then you may want to consider translations by Caroline Alexander, Anthony Verity, Rodney Merrill, and Peter Green. All these translations have been reviewed by respected classicists and they have been noted for their scrupulous closeness to the original Greek. Rodney Merrill in particular has achieved the seemingly impossible by combining near scrupulous fidelity to the original and a brilliant Englishised and expressive poem. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
I enjoyed Richmond Lattimore's translations of The Iliad and The Odyssey. Was your main issue with them that they sounded stilted to you?