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Homer: The Odyssey & The Iliad

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  • 17-07-2006 1:23pm
    #1
    DerryRed
    Registered Users Posts: 472 ✭✭


    I am interested in reading both The Odyssey & The Iliad by Homer and was wondering if anyone had recommendations on the best English translation to read.


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    #2
    punka
    Closed Accounts Posts: 354 ✭✭punka


    For my money the best translation is by Chapman. You can get it in the Wordsworth series (cheap!) in a volume containing the Iliad and the Odyssey. Pope's translation is amazing but it's more of a "version" than a translation, if you know what I mean.

    If you're looking for something more modern, the best verse translation of recent times is by Lattimore. It's very faithful to the Greek while at the same time being extremely readable. Fitzgerald and Fagles are good too. EV Rieu's Odyssey is an OK prose translation, while his Iliad is less inspired. Martin Hammond's Iliad isn't great either.


    After you've read the Iliad, you should check out Christopher Logue's War Music, which is billed as a "recomposition" of the Iliad.


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