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    4 Comments

    1. DoubleDoctorD on

      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.

    2. 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.

    3. 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.

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