Homer in English (Poets in Translation, Penguin) (ISBN 0140446214)

Great poet, great series:
This book is the centerpiece of Penguin's wonderful and now tragically out of print Poets in Translation series, featuring selections from many translations with brief introductions. Editing a volume for Homer is to tackle a great volume of translations, many of them famous in their own right. The cut-off year is 1994, so the book doesn't include one of my favorite translations, Stanley Lombardo's, although it does have Fitzgerald and Lattimore excerpts; their texts are the other ones popular in schools these days. While the Middle and Early Modern English selections could have used glosses, and some of the introductions are less than informative, the editors have done a fantastic job at digging up rare translations and finding examples of Homeria, Homer-inspired literature from Joyce to Keats to Walcott's OMEROS. One gets a sense not only of how Anglophone views of Homer have changed, but also how writing has changed. It demonstrates why certain translations (i.e. Chapman's, Pope's, Pound's First Canto) are justly famed. If you like the idea of the Poets in Translation series, but not Homer, I suggest trying BAUDELAIRE IN ENGLISH or OVID IN ENGLISH, two of my favorites, and neither so overwhelmed by excess translators as this book can be. On the other hand, there will certainly be more than one Homer in this book to please even the most picky reader, and the joy of discovering another fine translation or inspiration makes this book worth 5/5 stars. Homer lives!

Samples of translations plus related writings.:
Ever since I read Keats' poem "On First Looking into Chapman's Homer," I've been looking for a copy or at least a sample of his words. Chapman was a contemporary of Shakespeare and his words are wonderful. But this book is more than a compilation of snippets from various translators. It includes related writings from Keats (the above poem, of course), Shelley, Chaucer, James Joyce's description of the young Homer and other authors. For Homerphiles, it is a nice book to have and a source that points to other authors who have also been smitten with the ancient bard.

For the Love of Homer...:
I have to say that ever since I stumbled upon this book in a used bookshop my love for Homer has increased immesurably! It features samples from The Iliad and Odyssey from just about every translator up until 1994. Comparing various prose, verse and ryhming translations by famous and non-famous translators and poets of the past proves to be an incredible source of inspiration and wisdom! "Homer in Translation" can provide anyone who is looking into Homer academically or personally with more than enough comparative translations to NOT have to go out and purchase a few different copies of the Iliad or Odyssey. (It is good to own at least 2 of each). I find that comparing Homer gives me the utmost joy and pleasure, and now having a glimpse of excerpts on the art of translating, my joy is fulfilled, and I guarantee yours will be too! Take care!