Robert fagles, whose acclaimed translations of homers iliad and odyssey were welcomed as major publishing events, brings the aeneid to a new generation of readers, retaining all of. Set in the trojan war, the tenyear siege of ilium, by a coalition of greek states, it tells of the battles and events during the. We bring you the opening pages of her translation, plus interviews with two of her most famous modern precursors, robert fitzgerald and robert fagles. Eliot, homers epic poem the iliad is translated by robert fagles with an introduction and notes by bernard knox in penguin classics one of the foremost achievements in western literature, homers iliad. This is the best version i have found so far of the iliad. Robert fitzgeralds translation of the iliad into normal english is beautiful and poetic. The ancients believed it was a bard called homer, although they disagreed about biographical details. Dan stevens, the narrator, does an equally amazing job. He maintains the drive and metric music of homers poetry, and evokes the impact and nuance of the iliad s mesmerizing repeated phrases in what peter levi calls an astonishing performance. In this brilliant translation, robert fagles brings the vigor of contemporary language to homers 2,700yearold tale. The iliad audiobook by homer, robert fagles translator audible. The iliad by homer derek jacobi reads the opening, translated by. The iliad in this widely acclaimed verse translation of homers great epic, robert fagles combines the skills of poet and scholar. In his note on the translation, verity renounces both poetry.
Robert fagles, whose acclaimed translations of homers iliad and odyssey were welcomed as major publishing events, brings the aeneid to a new generation of readers, retaining all of the gravitas and. So digging around the internet what do i discover but audiobook versions of fagles translations of the iliad and the odyssey. Combining the skills of a poet and scholar, robert fagles brings the energy of contemporary language to this enduring heroic epic. In other words, it exemplifies as no other translation. Classics in audio series homer author john lescault narrator 2003 the iliad. The iliad robert fagles ave maria university store. His translations of both the iliad and odyssey have sold hundreds of thousands of copies and have become the standard translations of our era. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Both volumes are signed by the translator robert fagles. The odyssey is literatures grandest evocation of every mans journey through life.
The huge themes godlike, yet utterly human of savagery and calculation, of destiny defied, of triumph and grief compel our own. This version reminds me of the comment made to alexander pope after he published his version of the iliad a pretty poem, mr. Listening to derek jacobi deliver the iliad in robert fagles translation. Getting to the implied question in my title finally. He brings the energy of contemporary language to this enduring heroic work. The iliad is an epic poem in dactylic hexameters, traditionally attributed to homer. The great war epic of western literature, in a stunning translation by acclaimed classicist robert fagles a penguin classic dating to the ninth century. The iliad by homer derek jacobi reads the opening, translated by robert fagles duration. The iliad audiobook homer, robert fagles translator. Bernard knox the centuries old epic about the wrath of achilles is rendered into modern english verse by a renowned translator and accompanied by an introduction that reassesses the identity of homer. Lattimores is closest to the original greek, and for undergraduate work can substitute for the original well enough.
Thus, it is also a challenge to fagles s translation, among whose virtues is how well it works as an audiobook. A work of tremendous influence that has inspired writers from his ancient greek contemporaries to modernist writers such as t. Robert fagles translation of the iliad is undoubtedly one of the very best. The iliad, together with the odyssey, is one of two ancient greek epic poems traditionally. The result, the winner of the 1991 academy of american poets landon translation award, is a wonderfully accessible iliad. The great war epic of western literature, translated by acclaimed classicist robert fagles, and featured in the netflix series the oaa penguin classic dating to the ninth century b. In robert fagles beautifully rendered text, the iliad overwhelms us afresh. The iliad, by homer full audiobook homers iliad is the first great work of western literature. First editions, early printings of both the iliad and the odyssey of the translation done by robert fagles. Although notable translations of the iliad by robert fitzgerald and richmond lattimore had appeared in 1961 and 1965, fagles momentously chose to translate the poem for what he called the channelsurfing age because every decade if not every age needs its own translation. Homer was the first greek writer whose work survives. He is the recipient of the 1997 penralph manheim medal for translation. In the myths and legends that are retold here, the energy and poetry of homers original is captured in a bold, contemporary idiom, giving us an edition of the odyssey that is a joy to listen to, worth savoring and treasuring for its sheer lyrical mastery this audiobook. Homer, i want to read homer, not robert fagles rewriting homer.
I just completed a continuing studies course on the odyssey at stanford university conducted by the venerable dr. The iliad would be from the poets younger years, and the odyssey would be from of an older and wiser manthats the theory. Eliot, homers epic poem the iliad is translated by robert fagles with an. Now, with this stunning modern verse translation, fagles has reintroduced virgils aeneid to a whole new generation, and completed the classical triptych at the heart of western. The iliad by homer, translated by robert fagles, is undoubtedly wonderful poetry that makes you marvel at word choice and rhetorical construction. September 11, 1933 march 26, 2008 was an american professor, poet, and academic, best known for his many translations of ancient greek and roman classics, especially. The result, the winner of the 1991 academy of american poets landon translation award, is a wonderfully accessible iliad that preserves every nuance of homers genius. He maintains the drive and metric music of homers poetry, and evokes the impact and nuance of the iliad.
During the class, we read from two of the most modern translations, this one from lattmore as well as robert fagles more recent translation. Like so many readers of this greatest of the classics, there is much labor in taking on this great work. The words used are in normal english so you dont have to struggle to decipher them. Written by homer, robert fitzgerald translator, audiobook narrated by dan stevens. When i first began reading the odyssey, i shuttled between robert fitzgeralds translation and robert fagles. Marsh mccall who actually made it a fun and fascinating class. The iliad audiobook homer, robert fagles translator audible. The centuries old epic about the wrath of achilles is rendered into modern english verse by a renowned translator and accompanied by an introduction that reassesses the identity of homer. The story begins when paris, son of priam, king of troy, carries off the beautiful helen, thereby. He was one of a long line of bards, or poets, who worked in the. Now, with this stunning modern verse translation, fagles. The publication of a new translation by fagles is a literary event.
The great epic of western literature, translated by the acclaimed classicist robert fagles a penguin classic robert fagles, winner of the penralph manheim medal for translation and a 1996 academy. Robert fagless vigorous, celebrated translation of the iliad receives a lively and engaging reading from renowned actor derek jacobi in this abridged. The great war epic of western literature, in a stunning translation by acclaimed classicist robert fagles a penguin classic dating to the ninth century b. Sing, goddess, the anger of peleus son achilleus and its devastation, which put pains thousandfold upon the achaians, hurled in their multitudes to the house of hades strong souls. Four decades after lattimore, robert fagless 1990 translation took the field. Robert fagles, winner of the penralph manheim medal for translation and a 1996 academy award in literature from. The 4 star rating in this case is only for the 2005 penguin audio audiobook edition of robert fagles 1996 translation of homers the odyssey. This week, we salute emily wilson, whose new englishlanguage translation of the odyssey is incredibly enough the first ever published by a woman.
In robert fagles beautifully rendered text, the iliad. The iliad audiobook by homer, robert fagles translator. The identity of the composer of the odyssey and the iliad is a matter of some speculation. The odyssey audiobook homer, robert fagles translator. The 1990 appearance of robert fagles s iliad offered a new. The iliad by homer robert fagles trans read by derek jacobi. The iliad livre audio homer, robert fagles translator. Homers iliad, translated by richmond lattimore 1951. The iliad audiobook by homer, robert fitzgerald translator. The iliad homer, knox, bernard, knox, bernard, fagles. Octavo, 2 volumes, original cloth, pictorial endpapers, bookmarks bound in. The iliad, the opening of book i, translated by robert fagles. The poem is commonly dated to the 8th or 7th century bc, and many scholars believe it is the oldest extant work of literature in the greek language, making it.
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