Looking for easy to read translations of ancient books such as the Odyssey and Beowulf
I don’t care about the integrity of the iambic pentameter or anything. I just want an easy to read version of these stories.
– Illiad & the Odyssey
– Beowulf
– Epic of Gilgamesh
– The Divine Comedy
– I’m open to suggestions
Seamus Heaney’s translation of *Beowulf* is incredibly readable.
I like the Barnes & Noble Classics versions of *Iliad* & *Odyssey.*
Not as familiar with popular renditions of the others, but hope this helps as a start.
DonQuixote4President on
Tolkien did a good Beowulf translation.
For-All-The-Cowz on
I find the Fagles transations of Odyseey and Iliad enjoyable and readable. They are poetic, but in the kind of way that you expect and like – not obscure.
The Heaney translation of Beowulf is easily readable.
fragments_shored on
Seamus Heaney’s “Beowulf” translation was already recc’d but mentioning it again because it’s top-notch and compulsively readable.
The Hollander “The Divine Comedy” is the gold standard, in my opinion. Husband Robert Hollander was a Dante scholar and wife Jean Hollander was a poet; together they created a really beautiful and accessible translation.
Emily Wilson’s “The Odyssey” is brisk and incisive, and utilizes very direct language in a way that is refreshing in a classics translation; her translation of “The Iliad” was just published in September.
There aren’t as many options for “Gilgamesh” as the others. I read parts of the Andrew George translation for my literature degree and it’s very comprehensive, but for sheer readability the recent Sophus Helle translation has gotten very good reviews and would be worth checking out.
4 Comments
Seamus Heaney’s translation of *Beowulf* is incredibly readable.
I like the Barnes & Noble Classics versions of *Iliad* & *Odyssey.*
Not as familiar with popular renditions of the others, but hope this helps as a start.
Tolkien did a good Beowulf translation.
I find the Fagles transations of Odyseey and Iliad enjoyable and readable. They are poetic, but in the kind of way that you expect and like – not obscure.
The Heaney translation of Beowulf is easily readable.
Seamus Heaney’s “Beowulf” translation was already recc’d but mentioning it again because it’s top-notch and compulsively readable.
The Hollander “The Divine Comedy” is the gold standard, in my opinion. Husband Robert Hollander was a Dante scholar and wife Jean Hollander was a poet; together they created a really beautiful and accessible translation.
Emily Wilson’s “The Odyssey” is brisk and incisive, and utilizes very direct language in a way that is refreshing in a classics translation; her translation of “The Iliad” was just published in September.
There aren’t as many options for “Gilgamesh” as the others. I read parts of the Andrew George translation for my literature degree and it’s very comprehensive, but for sheer readability the recent Sophus Helle translation has gotten very good reviews and would be worth checking out.