Which translation of Homer’s Iliad is the best? Guide to the best & worst editions + recommendations

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Күн бұрын

Translations of Homer's Iliad:
0:00 Introduction + Overview
Verse Translation's of Homers Iliad:
3:02 George Chapman Translation 1611-1615
Available by the #WordsworthClassics
3:48 Alexander Pope Translation
1715-1720
Available by #CollinsClassics
5:15 Richmond Lattimore translation
1951
Available by #UniversityofChicagoPress
5:44 Robert Fitzgerald translation
1974
Available by #OxfordUniversityPress and #EverymanLibrary edition
6:28 Robert Fagles translation
1990
Available by #PenguinPublishers
7:23 Stephen Mitchell translation
2011
Atria Books
8:18 Barry B. Powell translation
2013
Published by Oxford University Press
8:50 Caroline Alexander translation
2015
Published by #VintageClassics
9:17 Peter Green translation
2018
#UniversityofCaliforniaPress
10:21 Prose translations Homer's Iliad:
10:25 Samuel Butler translation
1898
Available by #BarnesandNobles and #ArcturusPublisher's
11:22 Martin Hammond translation
1987
Published by Penguin Publishers
11:49 E. V. Rieu translation
1950
Published by Penguin Publishers
12:30 Anthony Verity translation
2011
Published by Oxford University Press
13:16 W. H. D. Rouse translation
1938
Available by #SignetClassics
I was able to find 4 transactions of The Iliad on #projectgutenberg and #ibooks for free:
1. Translation by #AlexanderPope ( The ebook had more notes than the #collinsclassics edition ) 1715.
2. Literally translated with notes by Theodore Alois Buckley 1851.
3. Translation by Earl Cowper 1791.
4. Translation by 3 translators: W. Leaf, A. Lang and E. Meyers 1882. (Published by London Macmillan)
Where else can you find me?
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I’m Reesha. I’m a 27 year old Pakistani Doctor, living in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. I love to read books and make videos about them.
#fortheloveofclassics #classicscommunity #theiliad #besttranslation #homer

Пікірлер: 369

@revolutionarygoose4665 3 жыл бұрын

At least none of them depicts Pat and Achilles as cousins lmao

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

No, the movie did that, right?

@thelukesternater 3 жыл бұрын

@@Fortheloveofclassics At lest the movie didn’t change race like the tv show did... I feel like homer would have noted an Ethiopian with blonde hair.

@nutyyyy 3 жыл бұрын

There is a possibility there were cousins but that wouldn't have been a problem then. Also they weren't gay in the Iliad.

@revolutionarygoose4665 3 жыл бұрын

@@nutyyyy They were from completely different kingdooms, there was almost no way they were related by blood, but if you wanna talk possibilities, there was more than 70% chance they were lovers, not gay, but lovers

@thelukesternater 3 жыл бұрын

This is Ancient Greece man... everyone not ‘really’ gay but you know like it’s a long campaign and you gots a young lil apprentice and the nights are long...

@juliakostorz5669 3 жыл бұрын

I can confidently say that after reading five of these translations, that the one by E. V. Reiu is my favorite. While the one by W. H. D. Rouse felt like a quick read and was much plainer and easier to read, it removes a lot of the beautiful descriptions and poetry that makes the Iliad such a great read, and makes it seem like it's just a boring book about gods and fighting. It's called epic poetry for a reason. It's not supposed to be an easy read, and buying a translation just because its the easiest to read won't help you to gain a better understanding.

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Wow! You’ve read 5 translations! That’s amazing 👏👏👏

@Oodelally 3 жыл бұрын

I read his revised translation (D .C. H Rieu) but bought Fagles translation for the Iliad. Is the Odyssey also originally meant to be in verse like the Iliad?

@juliakostorz5669 3 жыл бұрын

@@Oodelally yes

@Yup712 Жыл бұрын

My favorite so far is the Stephen Mitchell translation of “The Iliad”. I feel it really captures the warrior ethos, positive masculinity, and hip-hop like macho bravado of the original. His poetic meter has a flow that needs to really be heard or read aloud to appreciate it.

@abesapien9930 5 ай бұрын

This is how I felt about a recent translation I got of 1,001 Nights. There was absolutely no music or rhythm to the prose--it felt like it was written for a 5-year old child (and yet had none of the lightness and excitement of a children's book either). Preserving beauty is important in translation.

@aarya1467 3 жыл бұрын

I was really confused and couldn't decide which one to buy this was extremely helpful thanks :)

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Glad to help 🙌

@brianconnolly3267 3 жыл бұрын

You seem very down to earth and you've created an informative and condensed video on this topic, super impressive. Thank you!

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much ☺️

@Yup712 Жыл бұрын

@IsraelNowIsraelForever Жыл бұрын

'Hip-hop'? Are you a colored person?

@jenniferbrooks 3 жыл бұрын

This is a great idea, Reesha! I had no idea there were so many editions. I read the Robert Fagles too and really enjoyed it but I have to say, the Alexander Pope one does sound beautiful, if harder to understand 😂

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Yes, it sounds so cool but can be difficult to understand 😂

@rajdas1201 2 жыл бұрын

That's because it's written in the heroic couplet, a staple choice for Pope. He loved to use this, especially since it also allowed him to write in iambic pentameter. Read 'The Rape of the Lock' to see the full capacity of the heroic couplet. But translating the Iliad by using this form is not a good idea.

@alexisflores603 3 жыл бұрын

This video was so helpful! I recently purchased the Robert Fagles translation and I’m so excited to read it! Thank you for this recommendation :)

@Fortheloveofclassics 2 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@swagg7109 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome, thanks for taking the time to create this video. Appreciate it.

@Fortheloveofclassics 2 жыл бұрын

My pleasure!

@bookingforewordtoit 3 жыл бұрын

I have been SEARCHING for this video for AGES!!! Thank you so much!

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Your welcome 💕🙌

@jblykins 3 ай бұрын

WOW! A KZfaq video that actually answered my question! Great job Reesha! Thank you!😀😀

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@TheVoltaire1 3 жыл бұрын

Great video. Im reading the Stephen Mitchell translation currently. Very easy to read to my surprise. I have never read the Iliad before. I picked up his translation of the Odyssey too. Ive recently got the urge to read up on as many classics as I can. So, I will be coming to your channel a lot. Keep up the great work.

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much ☺️ Hope you’re enjoying it!

@novohispana Ай бұрын

I implore whomever can manage the language to read Alexander Pope's, I'm convinced it is a peak of literature in both the English and really any language; and following it up with Chapman's Odyssey, in so doing service to those old Keats' verses. All these conceding the taste for old poetry has been adquired. Otherwise I'm certain Lattimore's satisfies, also have heard good of Robert Graves' tacit approach. It's just that Pope conveys a grandeur that elevates even mythology.

@cynthiafrank5638 Ай бұрын

I completely agree. I can read the original Greek but for English, I prefer Alexander Pope's translation. It is great poetry. Pope's notes for each book are also brilliant.

@btd7664 29 күн бұрын

Have a like, fellow Pope-enjoyer and encourager of aesthetic elevation. Homer is the greatest of poets. And Pope is the greatest of poets to translate him.

@abboudamjad2663 3 жыл бұрын

I actually think the Alexander pope is a really good one for many reasons. It IS poetic, unlike the others which tend to have narrative form. It IS rhythmic. And it is very well translated. But each one of us has their own opinions 😊

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

I love how rhythmic and poetic the Pope translation is.

@johnchao2422 9 ай бұрын

Pope is the OG. The Big Dawg. But most ppl aren’t gangster enough to read it (including me)

@mrRambleGamble 3 ай бұрын

@@johnchao2422a Non native English speaker will have a tough time with it. I like it though

@shinigamisecret 2 жыл бұрын

I just wanted to say thank you for making this amazing video. It's been a huge help with choosing the right one for me

@Fortheloveofclassics 2 жыл бұрын

Glad I could help!

@dianaedid7819 3 жыл бұрын

This was awesome. I hope this becomes a series !

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much ☺️ That’s a wonderful idea 💡

@inkbythebarrelandpaperbyth6905 3 жыл бұрын

Beautiful, well-read, intelligent and excellent content. Thank you so much.

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!

@Melissa-jb5mi 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this great overview! You put so much work and research into this. I have the Robert Fagles translation on my wishlist for Christmas. I might check out Caroline Alexander as well though. Fagles defiantly has the most beautiful edition though :D

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much ☺️ It did take a lot of research. Read passages from the translations before picking one. All the best 📖

@KM-dd1cm 2 жыл бұрын

So helpful!! Thanks for the summary~

@cheddarcheese5476 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! This was so helpful. I'm currently reading the Penguin Deluxe - Fagles as well which is gorgeous. But Pope's translation sounds beautiful. I might get those after.

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

I’m glad you found this helpful 🙌 Happy reading 📖

@rogston39 3 жыл бұрын

As helpful, articulate and insightful as ever. Thank you :-)

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much ☺️

@cynthiacarr4252 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you. We are doing the Iliad and Odyssy in our homeschool this year. Your presentation was lovely.

@Fortheloveofclassics 2 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@LulukMonster 3 жыл бұрын

Extremely helpful guide! Thank you:)❤️

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@antidepressant11 2 жыл бұрын

How dedicated and detailed. You are a star!

@Fortheloveofclassics 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much

@StephanieJCohen 3 жыл бұрын

I have the Robert Fagles and Caroline Alexander translations. Love them both, though do appreciate the maps and notes in Fagles. I listened to Caroline Alexander’s on Audible.

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Oh listening to it on audible would’ve been so much fun 🙌

@JohnnyComelately-eb5zv 7 ай бұрын

Excellent video and breakdown of various translations. Well done. 👍

@Fortheloveofclassics 6 ай бұрын

Glad you liked it!

@outworld15 10 ай бұрын

İ too am a doctor, from Panama that has a profound inclination for the greek classics. İ have read both the İliad and the Odyssey several times and İ cannot put an end to spotting several insights about human nature in such a context. Specially the strength of the will, fed by a history of self-confidence fueled by personal accomplishments and a solid reputation, and its influence over decisions and handling of their own emotions. How it can easily get tied up with pride and obstination (as in the case of Achilles). Yet you also get to see their softer and more diplomatic side in their freetime activities (Patroclos and Achilles both enjoy singing and playing music) and in the concision, clear speech and unambiguety of their verbal expression while in different psychological states. Hector's loving and nurturing side is also unashamedly shown in the passage in which he speaks with his wife and baby son...the paralelism between Patroclos and Hector' thoughtful nature...the contrast between Helen and Briseid lives, the one living luxuriously and the other one in captivity, but both trapped by the rigid and heartless walls of their circumstances. İ am convinced that we must try our best to spark a Second Renaissance. Books, virtue and science keep developing children away from bad influences and forge in them a character defined by authenticity and love for Learning. İt is an immense pleasure to have found your channel

@Fortheloveofclassics 10 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for the insightful comment. Welcome to my channel, hope you enjoy your time here! ❤️❤️

@bookishtopics 3 жыл бұрын

This is really helpful! Thank you for this video! I want to read the Illiad at some point too and choosing a good translation is definitely a struggle. I think I'll get a prose one. Prose is easier for me to read

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome! I’m so glad this was helpful 🙌

@Boylit 3 жыл бұрын

I wish I came by such a video when I was about to read the Iliad. So helpful. The one I ended up reading was Martin Hammond’s, for no particular reason. I agree that it’s accessible and it’s quite good. I read E.V. Rieu’s translation of the Odyssey, and I enjoyed it a lot. In my rereads I’ll try a verse edition, and I’ll be going back to this video to make the final decision.

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Interesting 🙌 I’m glad it’s going to be out there for anyone confused about the translations for the Iliad. Thank you ☺️

@ImissSaganCarl 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent video. I can't believe how many translations there are and I am so glad I came across your video before blindly buying the first one I see. The problem is that I realize I will need to do even more research now to determine which one to get. Thanks.

@Fortheloveofclassics 2 жыл бұрын

You're very welcome!

@landrecce 3 жыл бұрын

Brilliant!! Thank you for this!!! It helped me so much!!!

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

So glad it did!

@Blue_3987 11 ай бұрын

I started from Samuel Butler translation from a local publisher and 2 years later found the Chapman translation in my school library, which I fell utterly in love with, as a highschool 2nd year. (Still a highschool second year lol)

@user-st8rh4dj1x 28 күн бұрын

Thank you for taking the time to explain everything so clearly. I have always wanted to read this book and I will start by going to the bookstore and reviewing the different authors. My summer read for 2024.

@Fortheloveofclassics 22 күн бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@JourneyJive425 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Reesha! I just finished reading the odyssey, translated by E. V. Rieu and were looking for a comparison of the english Illiad translations. Your video gave me a wonderful insight into the various translations available. Greetings from Austria

@Fortheloveofclassics 2 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@kajalmandal6 Жыл бұрын

I was searching for prose translation. This video is Really helpful one. So i ordered Samuel Butler's prose edition as Im literally a beginner. Thank you so much 🙏✨ God bless you ✨

@surrealsoupuniverse Жыл бұрын

I bought the samuel butler translation as well, i bought it today at a book fair, is it good?

@Fortheloveofclassics Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@WarinPartita6 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for talking about my favorite Rouse translation.

@Fortheloveofclassics 2 жыл бұрын

👍

@adrikamondal5186 3 жыл бұрын

Hello Reesha Didi! This was a very informative video. Your detailed explanation was very helpful for someone like me, who haven't read Iliad by Homer yet. I would love to read the Fagles's translation as it is a very famous one. But...currently I don't think that I would read this book. Iliad is a difficult book to understand, but I think I should challenge reading it someday. And you are always there to help your viewers out!😘 Love 💘 you Stay safe and Happy Reading 📚

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much ☺️ Yes! Take your time with the classics. Read whichever one you’re in the mood for. Hope this video is helpful whenever you feel like reading The Iliad.

@kennykistler6735 Жыл бұрын

Nice video. I have that Fagles translation (as well as Fagles' translation of The Odyssey), and I like them both. Glad to see you have it and like it!

@Fortheloveofclassics Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@timesmasquerade2012 Жыл бұрын

Lady, this is a superb presentation and quite refreshing - incidentally George Chapman is a relative on my fathers side. The literature bug runs in my family. Excited to check out your other efforts.

@Fortheloveofclassics Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much 😊

@tseamus8288 3 жыл бұрын

Im glad i found this vlog ive been planning to read illiad and odyssey but i cant decide which the best translation. Thank you so much! Edit: im gonna get from the penguin deluxe with a map inside. Lol. Thank you again!

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Your welcome. All the best 👍🏽

@TheCTusten 3 жыл бұрын

Very good reviews. I too have been wading through multiple translations of The Iliad. It's been more than five years. Can't say which translation is the best - but I do have favorites. The Pope for the poetry, Lattimore for accuracy and notes. I have most of the other translations you reference, most prefer the Fagles, which the first translation I read. The Caroline Alexander translation in my edition has no notes. Now I have to buy another one!

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Wow 🤩 That’s amazing! I did really appreciate the poetic words of Pope but it was too dense for a newbie 😅 But I love your dedication to the various translations 👏

@jmch6359 2 жыл бұрын

Quite thorough. Nicely done.

@Fortheloveofclassics 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@albioncala 3 жыл бұрын

Robert fagles is my favorite translator but i hear that emily wilson the professor who translated the odyssey in 2017(which was great by the way) is translating the iliad and I'm really excited to read her take on it.

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome 👏✨

@thelukesternater 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks, also listening to the Iliad is awesome too!

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, that would be fun.

@dataspice3732 8 ай бұрын

Thank you for taking on this topic. I say that Pope's translation is magnificent, but it is not the place to start. If you are coming to the Iliad for the first time you are not ready for Pope. You need to understand the story really well, and you have to be enthusiastic about reading it again (and again). If you're new start with prose, then move to Fagles, then to Pope. Climb the ladder. Fagles is clear and modern, is widely available, and comes with an introduction by the scholar Bernard Knox. The exciting news is that Emily Wilson's translation is now available, and based on her translation of The Odyssey, will likely (in my mind) surpass Fagles, and maybe even Pope.

@JeannyMeyer 3 жыл бұрын

This is so helpful, great video!

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much ☺️

@alexanderwang_ 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for this information! It’s so helpful.

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@johnbevan4684 Жыл бұрын

Excellent video. Thank you for the hard work you put into it. I did as you requested: I liked and subscribed. Peace.

@Fortheloveofclassics Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!

@shannonells8793 3 жыл бұрын

Such a great video to help people on their first read!

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much ☺️

@michmash2530 3 жыл бұрын

I picked up the Robert Fagles translation on a whim and quickly fell into a deep hole researching greek mythology and history to help me understand all these references. thanks for going through all these editions and feeding into my research addiction! 😂 While I like how easy this translation is to read, I feel like I'm missing out on the more beautiful, song-like translations. I might try one of these! By the way, are you going to film a review? It would be great to hear your thoughts as I go through it.

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

I actually started researching about all the translations (Hence the video) and about Greek mythology after I got into the Iliad. I definitely plan on filming a review for the book, as soon as I finish reading it! I know, I know, I should have finished the book by now. Life happened and I stopped the book in the middle, I plan on reading it as soon as I can.

@joshwelbaum 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you!! This is wonderful for us "Normal readers."

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

@user-cp7lx7vs1y 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Went with Stephen Mitchell's since I've heard good things about his translations, which are many

@Fortheloveofclassics 2 жыл бұрын

👍

@anthonybutt5988 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent work. Many thanks. 👍

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Cheers!

@abhinavdeysarkar 2 жыл бұрын

This is so helpful, thank you so much ...I was very confused with which edition should I start my journey, since I enjoy verses more . I also wanted to compare it with prose writing style so this video was win-win for me. Also a suggestion for whoever is gonna start there journey, read the book called "The Library Of Greek Mythology " its will be really helpful for backgrounds and basics understanding of events prior to The Iliad.

@Fortheloveofclassics 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much 😊

@chellirey3040 3 жыл бұрын

This was really helpful thank you so much!!

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Your welcome 😊

@kittyhawkwb 3 жыл бұрын

I first read the prose Rouse translation when I was in high school, because it was easier to understand than a verse translation. But later on I read the Lattimore translation of the Iliad (and the Odyssey). While it does not have notes, there is actually a full book called A Companion to the Iliad: Based on the translation by Richmond Lattimore, by Malcolm M. Willcock, which tells you everything you could possibly want to know about every person, god, place, or anything else mentioned in the Iliad.

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

That's amazing! You got to read two different versions of the Iliad.

@smvillarreal1854 2 жыл бұрын

Well done. I first read the Iliad 60 years ago and is one of the books I read every year. You're piece is great because so many people start the book and gets lost in the language or just find it tedious and stop. The only thing I would add is that I would avoid any translation which uses Roman gods. I have never understood that. Thank you and I will be looking forward to your next video.

@Fortheloveofclassics 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! I agree, they are so confusing when they use the names of roman gods!

@billnugent8527 2 жыл бұрын

Thank You for this. I first read E.V. Rieu's translation 60 years ago and it remains my favorite but you have prompted me to try some of the others. To those who love The Iliad I recommend Simone Weil's essay, The Poem of Force, called by Atlantic Monthly "the 20th centuries most profound response to the world's greatest and most disturbing poem".:

@ryokan9120 2 жыл бұрын

I agree with you about Simone Weil's essay. Not many people today will have read that essay. What is equally interesting are the hideous circumstances just before the beginning of WW2 that prompted Weil to write that essay during an extremely difficult time. Prior to reading this essay, I wasn't a fan of The Iliad, but reading Weil's essay completely changed my perspective and made me reevaluate The Iliad, although I still prefer The Odyssey.

@Fortheloveofclassics 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much 😊

@MegaAngryspoon 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much, was tossing up between Fables and a few others and this convinced me

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Glad I could help!

@MegaAngryspoon 3 жыл бұрын

@@Fortheloveofclassics I finished it yesterday!

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

@@MegaAngryspoon Amazing!!!

@CHUCKRYALS1234 2 жыл бұрын

Great video! Thank you. Reading Lattimore again, but I Will get the Fagle's translation next.

@Fortheloveofclassics 2 жыл бұрын

Hope you enjoy it!

@petrina7883 2 жыл бұрын

Very interesting and useful - thank you❤️.

@Fortheloveofclassics 2 жыл бұрын

❤️

@teanlit2949 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for sharing this video. The Iliad is one of my brother's favorite books and we'll be reading it for our channel also.

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome 👏 Your welcome.

@arv3ryn 3 жыл бұрын

Hey I got the Samuel Butler edition.....liking it so far

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome!

@TueSorensen 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I've ordered the Anthony Verity translation.

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Happy reading 📖

@lindakelly7430 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you, that was really useful. X

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

You’re welcome 😊

@closerlookbooks 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for your video. I just noticed how old the video is. I recommend Emily Wilson’s translation of Iliad and the Odyssey. thanks again.

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 ай бұрын

Yes, it’s been up for a while now

@Mr_Existentialist 2 жыл бұрын

I have the Iliad and Odyssey in the Everyman's Library ( Fitzgerald ) editions, and Butler's translation in Canterbury Classics - a beautiful hardback. I find them both accessible and beautifully written. I can also recommend the T.E. Shaw ( Lawrence ) translation; Lawrence of Arabia, himself! Shaw translation is available in the Macmillan Collector's Library edition books - nice little edition hardbacks. Thanks for your recommendations. RY.

@Fortheloveofclassics 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for sharing.

@isoney 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you. I’m looking at how I want to read it. I might mix it up and try one in verse and one in prose.

@Fortheloveofclassics 2 жыл бұрын

Your welcome 😊

@Ghoul_Boi 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! This is super helpful

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Your welcome 🙌

@kaahzvi5820 3 жыл бұрын

Reading my friends copy by E. V. Rieu, a lot of informatuon. Very thorough research on your part, thank you!

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Glad it helped 🙌

@DhampirParadox 3 жыл бұрын

I can definitely recommend the Robert Fagles translation. I cannot say with the Iliad but I’ve read his version of the Odyssey (for uni in 2010) and I really enjoyed it. It was poetic without a forced rhyme - I found it had a nice rhythm. I’ve compared some of the other more recent translations of the Odyssey (the first few paragraphs) and I still find Fagles the most accessible all these years later.

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome! I’ve got the Odyssey in the Fagles translation as well. Good to know 👏

@wesbacon348 2 жыл бұрын

This was super helpful!

@Fortheloveofclassics 2 жыл бұрын

I'm so glad!

@anaesthetic312 8 ай бұрын

I have a collection of the Penguin clothbound editions, and was wondering if I should buy the Iliad one (R. V. Rieu). Since it's modern, I can give it a try. Thanks a lot for this video!

@Fortheloveofclassics 6 ай бұрын

Thank you 😊

@hughmanatee7657 6 ай бұрын

I love thé sonnet by John Keats, “On Looking into Chapman’s Homer.” It inspired me to read Chapman’s Homer, and it is indeed beautiful.

@dustinneely 10 ай бұрын

I just read the Samuel Butler translation. It was Latinized prose. It was kind of a rough read honestly (Jove instead of Zeus etc...). Thank you for this breakdown. I think I'll probably pick up the Fitzgerald translation for a re-read. His translation of the Odyssey was excellent.

@laisrf Жыл бұрын

Thanks, this is very helpful! I did the same “mistake” as you by getting the Collins Classic edition (to my defense the local bookshop didn’t have any other editions readily available) but I was immediately annoyed by the use of the Roman names for the gods, as I’m used to the Greek names. I’m just going to return it and order the Robert Fagles translation even if it takes a few weeks to arrive. You do recommend this edition you read, right?

@Fortheloveofclassics Жыл бұрын

Yes

@wburris2007 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing your research.

@Fortheloveofclassics 2 жыл бұрын

My pleasure!

@lufei5926 2 жыл бұрын

As a common reader just for fun and a story teller for my children, I 'd like to read graphic book, such as of Gareth Hinds, also an impressive one, still keeping the original feeling of the classical book, while extracting the most fantastic scenes put to you.

@Fortheloveofclassics 2 жыл бұрын

That sounds fun!

@spaceranger3728 Жыл бұрын

I read the WHD Rouse prose edition then Peter Green's translation and just finished Lattimore's. Lattimore seemed to cut the lengths of the verses down a bit so they didn't dangle as much as some of the others. I haven't read Fagles' yet but if it is as good as his Odyssey and Aeneid, then it's definitely on my TBR list. Caroline Alexander's "The War That Killed Achilles" is a good companion book after you've read the Iliad.

@cunningba 3 жыл бұрын

Excellent video! Great survey, greatly expanding on our earlier discussion. I got the Fagles’ translation of both The Iliad and Odyssey from the library and greatly enjoyed them. I greatly enjoy Booktube videos like this covering many books (or parts of books) on a connected theme. You may it interesting to note that Samuel Butler had a theory that the Odyssey was written by a woman, which he expounded in “The Authoress of the Odyssey”. I am unconvinced. In fact, I know of no reliable evidence that “Homer” was a single author. Still, you might find Butler’s monograph amusing sometime. I also seem to remember from one of Steve Donoghue’s video that there was another 20th century woman who translated Homer, but I can’t recall who right now and can’t find the reference. I only remember it was someone surprising who is well known and it may not have been published.

@cunningba 3 жыл бұрын

I was confused on the last point: I was thinking of Dorothy L. Sayers translation of Dante.

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much ☺️ I had such an informative and fun discussion with you regarding the translations which made me research them more. I’m glad you found this video good. It’s always fun to learn new, fun stuff 🙌 Samuel Butlers theory about the Odyssey does sound like a theory but I would love to look it up more.

@cunningba 3 жыл бұрын

@@Fortheloveofclassics Butler's monograph is available on Project Gutenberg, eBook #49324.

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Barry Cunningham I will check it out, thank you 🙌

@bath_neon_classical 3 ай бұрын

i read nearly all these mentioned. alexander pope's homer is the most fun, its very difficult but when you get it its really beautiful, worth the effort, his odyssey is even better, whd rouse is my favourite simple version of the iliad. steven mitchel is brilliant! the best audible audiobook illiad is reiu

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing!!

@sid5255 2 жыл бұрын

This video was helpful, deserves a like. 😁👍

@Fortheloveofclassics 2 жыл бұрын

Glad it helped!

@ianmartinesq Жыл бұрын

Stanley Lombardo's is my favorite. He also has a recorded book on tape that he himself read.

@kevinmurphy65 Ай бұрын

I read Lattimore and own Fitzgerald. Will be expanding on some newer versions soon!

@denisadellinger4543 26 күн бұрын

Oh my. So many considerations. Research truly is important. I read it in elementary school. It was probably a translation rich in the story and not the verse. I think I will get yours. If I can remember the blue title I'll be going well.

@HkFinn83 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your summary and thoughts. Personally EV Rieu was my introduction to Homer so I will always have a soft spot for that. It’s still very readable and easy for a modern person, and remains a good choice imo. In terms of a verse version I like Fagles and Fitzgerald. Some of the very recent ones are just too ‘modern’ imo and lose the grandeur.

@Fortheloveofclassics Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing!

@co1937 3 жыл бұрын

Which is the best? Butler is a very good transition despite no notes. They were left out. Greek & roman translations are floating around.

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

I can’t read in Greek or Roman. I only talked about the English translations.

@artkoenig9434 Жыл бұрын

I agree with your assessment of the Fagles translation. Pope's translation is also written in the same poetic meter as Homer's : dactylic hexameter! No small accomplishment.

@augustasimone9323 Жыл бұрын

Many thanks !

@Fortheloveofclassics Жыл бұрын

Your welcome

@VitriolicThunder 11 ай бұрын

I'm quite fond of the 1905 prose translation by Andrew Lang, Walter Leaf, and Ernest Myers published by Macmillan. A bit older language, but that's what I like.

@Prometheus4096 2 жыл бұрын

I love the Fitzgerald translation read out as audiobook by George Guidall.

@Fortheloveofclassics 2 жыл бұрын

Noted 📝

@kajalmandal6 Жыл бұрын

Thank god and thank you. Coz I'm searching something like this before reading “Songs of Achilles"! 🙏✨💙

@bramt1742 3 жыл бұрын

I think this was a very fun video but I have some issues with the terms 'worst', 'bad', 'good', 'best'. If one translation suits one better than another, that does not make that other a bad translation. Every translator puts their own personal touch to it or it could be written in another time period. Their intention and their goal audience may differ (like for someone who wants to enjoy the story or someone who studies ancient greek and has to consult a premade translation for some help). If it's published by such press-companies, they will certainly not publish a bad one (that is translated in such a way that it alters the story or intentionally leave parts out). Everyone has their own personal taste and just has to find the right fit for them. But all this criticism aside, I really like your videos, keep up the good work! ps: i hope you will read The Perfume by Patrick Suskind hihi

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

I do understand what you mean: and that’s why I didn’t say any of the translation is the best or the worst. I haven’t read them all to be a judge of that and you’re right : no one can say for sure what’s the best one out there. It’s a very objective choice. But thank you for sharing your feedback 💕

@EdwardTheMedievalist 2 жыл бұрын

The Ennis Rees translation is another good one. It's written in verse and straightforward to read. This edition is avaliable in the Barnes & Noble Classics by Bruce N. King.

@Fortheloveofclassics 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome! Thanks for sharing

@praalgraf 3 жыл бұрын

very interesting video! i'm a big fan of robert fagles and e.v. rieu's translation myself

@Fortheloveofclassics 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much 😊

@nmvhr 20 күн бұрын

If you’ve finished reading the book, could you take a look at the new translation by Emily Wilson? Interested in how it compares in your opinion.

@nmvhr 20 күн бұрын

Oh I just sorted by recent lol. I wonder how she made it less sexist 🤔 I would’ve thought in the past that would be an almost default state of affairs. I’m sure that’s probably not what the praise she’s receiving is about. The meter? Do other translators not use the same meter?

@Abuamina001 29 күн бұрын

Mashallah. Nice. Have you reviewed the Dr Emily Watson translation yet ?

@midneen 4 ай бұрын

I like the Rodney Merrill translation. He uses the original meter, dactylic hexameter, which has a hypnotic rhythm that I love. "Sing now, goddess, the wrath of Achilles the scion of Peleus, / Ruinous rage which brought the Achaians uncounted afflictions"

@radjanpartiman5085 2 жыл бұрын

I read the iliad in verse form, and it was somewhat difficult to follow, but afterwards I read the dutch book " Mythen en sagen van de griekse wereld " and there it was that I read The Iliad as a story...like a beautiful, yet tragic story about the fall of Troy, which captivated me very much ;-)

@Fortheloveofclassics 2 жыл бұрын

Intersting.

@MichaelHattem Жыл бұрын

If you want to read Greek tragedies, Lattimore’s translations are the best. I highly recommend these after The Iliad. Also, The Great Courses has fantastic audio courses on all of these texts.

@Fortheloveofclassics Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing!

@nbenefiel 9 ай бұрын

I’ve read the Iliad in Greek and many translations but I still think Lattamore is the best. To me it seems the closest to the Greek. It has the right cadence.

@caradocewing4434 2 жыл бұрын

Lydgate Troy book - 15th century England. Very interesting as in medieval fashion updates everything to what the reader was familiar with eg they’re all in bascinets. It’s not exactly a translation but a retelling of what the author knew the story to be. The illustrations are also invaluable to the study of 15th century English armour.

@Fortheloveofclassics 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for suggesting