Classical Literature Read-Along discussion

Have any thoughts on the merits of different translations or personal recommendations please share them here :).

For the Odyssey other than the Penguin and Oxford World Classic editions I know from experience that Richmond Lattimore does an excellent job of translating Homer as I have read his translation of the Iliad.

LOEB editions are also good for literal translations and are accompanied by the original Greek or Latin, in case you come across one of these in your library :). They are small green (Greek) or red (Latin) hardback books.

I am currently looking for a good French translation. Apparently, some are in verses and some are in prose: which way do you think is the best to discover these two books? :).

Alexandra wrote: "I am currently looking for a good French translation. Apparently, some are in verses and some are in prose: which way do you think is the best to discover these two books? :)."

My copy of the Odyssey is in prose and my copy of the Metamorphoses is in verse. I don't have a personal preference, it has more to do with the clarity of the translator. Some would say for starting out if you aren't used to verse prose is easier but some get all stuffy and say verse is more authentic. I quite like prose though and it doesn't mean you're getting less of a genuine experience. Unless you're reading the verse in the latin or greek you're never truly getting the original experience. Not that reading a translation is any less of a wonderful reading experience. Sorry I don't know of any particular french translations but I hope you find a good one :) they should be out there. Just aim for the most up to date translation.

I've got a Richmon Lattimore translation of the Odyssey. I read book 9 as research for a paper once, and I thought Lattimore really brought the story to life. I would really recommend him!

Personally i've always enjoyed verse translations more because i think they have a bit more of a lyrical feeling when you read them. Lattimore's have always been my favorite but i quite like Robert Fagles too.

Mine is the Penguin Classics edition translated by D.C.H.Rieu...I don't think it's the newest Penguin one but it's from 2003 so I think it'll be okay =)

This is probably my least favorite part of reading classical literature: the translation wars. I think I'm pretty safe with my edition of The Odyssey, which is translated by Robert Fagles. I loved his translation of the Oedipus Plays. In my experience, his style manages to be very modern and simplistic while still retaining the authenticity and grandeur of the older translations.

I'm a bit more apprehensive with Metamorphoses. I ended up going with the Penguin Classics edition translated by David Raeburn. However, from what I've read, the A.D. Melville version seems to be more critically acclaimed.

Oh well. We'll see what happens.

My translation of the Odyssey (which arrived today, hip hip hooray!) has a lovely foreword by DCH Rieu explaining how he edited his dad's version and the changes he made. I'm very excited to get started on the readalong now!

LouLouReads wrote: "My translation of the Odyssey (which arrived today, hip hip hooray!) has a lovely foreword by DCH Rieu explaining how he edited his dad's version and the changes he made. I'm very excited to get st..."

That's the same as mine! I read the foreword and now am really excited about this =D

I own two different translations of The Odyssey, both published by Penguin. I have the prose translation by E.V. Rieu which is I have just realised is the one mentioned above which is revised by D.C.H. Rieu, and also a verse translation by Robert Fagles. Not sure yet which format I am going to read, I'm planning on giving both a try and seeing which I like best to continue on with!

For Metamorphoses I have a verse translation by David Raeburn.

Looking forward to getting started!!

Thank you Alice, a friend of mine lent me this exact translation. I'm not that fond of verse and I have a lot of trouble getting into the story :/. It's nicely translated, it's understandable, but I find it a bit dry (if it makes sense).

Alice wrote: "Alexandra wrote: "I am currently looking for a good French translation. Apparently, some are in verses and some are in prose: which way do you think is the best to discover these two books? :)."

I..."
All the teachers in classics from La Sorbonne agree with you about the translation by P. Jacottet. It's the one I read and I found it fluent (That's probably not what you think of my english right now ^^)
Any opinion for the metamorphosis trasnlation into french?

Just a quick post to say if anyone enjoyed the duel reading of the old text and then the modern take I'd recommend co reading The Iliad with Ransom by David Malouf.
Ransom is a really expertly written retelling of the famous story, it's seriously good stuff! I've not read The Iliad, (but the story is so well known it was not necessary to have read The Iliad, I mean we all know the story, if Brad Pitt has made a movie about it then we can kind of assume it's a general knowledge kind of deal!) but I couldn't stop thinking of Ransom while I was reading The Odyssey and The Penelopiad, and got a the reader itch to read the two together!
Has anyone else read Ransom? Or have any other recommendation for companion reads?