What Is The Best Translation Of The Iliad And The Odyssey Book?

Question

Any fellow mythology lovers know which Iliad and Odyssey translations feel most epic and true to the original Greek while still being readable for a modern audience?

Malyn Lisondra Sab · Answer

A modern prose translation which is equally good and readable is that by Robert Fagles. It preserves the epic scale and musicality of the original and, at the same time, avoids anachronisms. His translations even drew me further into the subject of the ancient warrior cultures and I ended up reading ‘The Loyal Spartan’, a webnovel which transposes these themes of brotherhood and impossible duty to a modern sci-fi setting, focusing on a genetically engineered warrior and his fight between his programming and his growing humanity.

Yurit · Answer

There are plenty of “unread” classics to look out for as well as new translations in progress. As for a possible new translation of the ‘Iliad’ by Emily Wilson pending, it will be interesting to see who will be the next scholar or poet to tackle the work and bring their unique perspective to it.

For now, the various translations are ours to read. In time, no doubt, another translation will be published which will seem better than the previous best. And so the conversation will continue, and the old poems will seem new again.

Rabia Rasool · Answer

Fagles. Read that. Those are the best translations of Homer that I have ever read. After reading those, I actually became a fan of the old Greek. The other translations are all good for different reasons but none of them are as good as Fagles for simply reading and enjoying. The Penguin Deluxe editions of the translations (black covers) are also extremely beautiful and should be purchased to be kept on your shelf forever.

Willow · Answer

I love reading epic poetry, and for me, there is no better work of epic poetry than ‘The Iliad’ and ‘The Odyssey’ by Homer. While there are many translations of both works, each translator has their own unique take, and there are many that are far better than others. My personal favorite for timeless beauty is Robert Fagles, as he has written in a rich and poetic style that evokes the timelessness of the work and brings you into his world. A more recent translation of ‘The Odyssey’ is by feminist writer, Emily Wilson, and it is a complete revelation – as she takes on the centuries of male authors and gives a brand new, sharp and clear version of Homer’s work. Then there’s Stanley Lombardo who has written the two epics in a very direct style, almost like a novel. He’s written them in such a way that they read very fast. My other favorite translator is Richmond Lattimore, as he managed to translate Homer into what is essentially ancient Greek, so if you don’t know any Greek, this is the way to go. In reality, it’s best to read many versions of both epic poems to get the best sense of the work as a whole.

Asia · Answer

I am also interested in the translation decisions that portray a character differently than in the original. In Fagles’ translation of Odysseus, the hero is portrayed as “the man of twists and turns” indicating his clever strategic nature. In contrast, Wilson’s translation calls Odysseus “complicated” which is a more psychological term than his clever strategic nature in Fagles’ translation. In Lombardo’s translation, Odysseus is a gritty fighter who is trying to survive his journey home.

I am left with a strong impression of just how the choices of a translator determine how we perceive a character. The ‘true’ Odysseus does not exist in English; he resides between all of the possible translations of the poem. Thus in choosing a translation of the Odyssey, we are choosing the journey of a particular Odysseus: epic hero, complicated man, or gritty and savvy fighter?

Idoreev · Answer

An ancient Alexander Pope translation in heroic couplets is for the pure linguistic thrill seeker. Pope’s rendering of Homer to 18th-century English in highly ornate language is a masterpiece in its own right, read today more as a highly innovative poem than as Homer himself. If you love English poetry of the highest order, read this next the accurate translation; the two make excellent reading together.

For the poetry lover, even those who don’t read Greek, the Pope translation of the Iliad is a masterpiece of English literature in its own right. Many famous English poets, including Milton and Dryden, were influenced by Pope’s work. Reading his translation of the Iliad after a more literal translation of the Greek epic is a mind-expanding read, but it is not the best way to get an understanding of the epic’s plot.

Rever · Answer

These are ‘translational’ versions of Homer’s texts too – a Graphic Canon version edited by Russ Kick and a standalone graphic novel by Gareth Hinds of both The Iliad and The Odyssey. His Iliad is extremely violent and also heartbreakingly sad in places. His Odyssey is a beautiful, otherworldly, mythic tale. He has captured the core of the stories so powerfully in each case.

The Graphic Canon versions and the two standalone graphic novel versions of The Iliad and The Odyssey are great for visual learners and for those looking for a very powerful and even visceral introduction to the stories and poems. Neither The Graphic Canon versions nor these graphic novel versions are superior to the poetic texts but they are valid, powerful, and in some ways even better versions that can stand on their own as works of art.

Emma · Answer

Choosing between translations of The Iliad and The Odyssey can often depend on personal interest. I recommend Richard Fagles’ translations of The Iliad for their extreme beauty and drama, Wilson’s modern and sharp translation of The Odyssey for a fresh view, Lattimore for the classical “purist” reader, and Lombardo for readers who see Homer’s work as performance art. The best translation for any reader would be one that they find interesting after sampling a few different versions to see how different translations portray the same work and bring the same genius to life.

Yvette · Answer

As a great lover of classical literature, I have labored long and hard to come to the best versions of The Iliad and The Odyssey. Robert Fagles has written a magnificent, rhythmic, poetic version of The Iliad that is as great as the epic itself. His translation is so superior to the others that I feel as though I am sitting at the feet of an ancient bard recounting the story of man. Emily Wilson, the first woman to translate The Odyssey into the English language, has written a crisp, modern and completely honest version of the epic poem. She strips away all of the Victorian froth to reveal the underlying structure of Homer’s poem and the failures of Odysseus, the greatest hero of all time.

Those seeking a more ancient flavor will appreciate the exacting translation in close-to-the-original-meter form by Richmond Lattimore, though it can read somewhat stiffly at times. And then there is the veteran oral poet translator Stanley Lombardo whose translations can make for great performances of the epic because they read as if the epic is being read to you around a campfire. Each translator is bringing something to the page that can be of greater or lesser value depending on whether one is most concerned with beautiful language, strict accuracy, or facility for reading aloud.

Frederick · Answer

Of all the translations of the Odyssey, I love Emily Wilson’s most. It was written in iambic pentameter, so it reads very naturally. Also her word choices are bold and very precise. They sound like they were written to be read out loud. I would recommend Fagles for The Iliad. He does an excellent job of balancing drama and clear translation. Lattimore’s translation adheres strictly to the Greek meter, which can sometimes make it sound a bit stiff. However, Lombardo’s translations are told in a way that sounds like they’re being read out loud.

Mary Chynn Maina · Answer

The physical book object can also be very important. I find that the best editions of the Fagles translations of Homer are published by the Folio Society with great illustrations and nice heavy paper. These books make a fine object for reading long epics like Homer’s. They transform the reading of a long work into a kind of ritual; as opposed to the drudgery of reading a cheap mass-market paperback with thin, small type.

It’s worth investing in a good edition of the translation you choose to read. You will doubtless return to the book in due course, and it can become a treasure to keep on a bookshelf, distinct from mere reading matter.

Marissa · Answer

I’ve found a few translations of the old texts that bring them to life. For The Iliad I prefer Fagles’ translation, elegant and exciting, and you can almost hear the clash of metal on metal as you read. For The Odyssey, Wilson’s translation is particularly good, not least because she has translated Odysseus as ‘complicated’ rather than ‘resourceful’. It makes you see the whole story in a new light. There are many more than plausible translations of the ancient texts by Lattimore, a scholarly translator of high standing, but less fun to read than Fagles’ and Wilson’s versions. As a beginner to Homer, it is best to read the versions by Fagles or Wilson first.

Tiffany · Answer

For the hard core fan, Rodney Merrill’s translation of the Odyssey is an English dactylic hexameter. What he’s tried to do is rephrase Homer in English to exactly the same rhythmic pattern as the original Greek. It’s an academic/poetic exercise that few people have attempted before, and, indeed, few people would wish to read for pleasure. It’s an amazingly challenging read at first but you soon get used to it.

In total contrast to Rieu’s prose translation, the Rodney Merrill translation of ‘The Odyssey’ is written in English dactylic hexameter, attempting to re-create the unique rhythm and sound of the original Greek poems. This challenging, and at times, even strange read is essentially a specialist item – best left to translation geeks and classics students. However, it so effectively highlights the scope of translation of Homer’s works.

What Is The Best Translation Of The Iliad And The Odyssey Book?

13 Answers

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