Synopses & Reviews
One of the two major ancient Greek epics, Homerandrsquo;s Odyssey, has been a classic of Western Literature for centuries. This new translation into spare, elegant blank verse is certain to attract the same praise and admiration as Herbert Jordanandrsquo;s translation of Homerandrsquo;s Iliad.
In keeping with the style of his Iliad, Jordan renders the Odyssey line-for-line in iambic pentameter, a pleasing five-beat meter as used by Shakespeare and by his contemporary George Chapman, the first great translator of Homer into English verse. Jordan deftly pilots Homerandrsquo;s dactyls and extended metaphors, capturing the essence of the poetandrsquo;s meanings while avoiding an overly literal or colloquial style.
This edition features maps of the Aegean region and Odysseusandrsquo; travels, explanatory notes, a pronunciation glossary of nouns, and an index of similes. E. Christian Kopffandrsquo;s introduction parses the Odysseyandrsquo;s meaning and intent, and contextualizes the poem within the larger epic tradition.
Readers never tire of the story of Odysseusandrsquo; return home from the Trojan War. This lively and energetic rendition invites twenty-first-century readers and students of Homerandrsquo;s epic to experience these adventures as if for the first time.
Review
"A remarkably fresh and clear translation. As deceptively simple as an Attic frieze, it is at once true to its ancient original and inviting to readers today." and#151;Luc Sante, translator of Fand#233;lix Fand#233;nand#233;on's Novels in Three Lines.
Synopsis
One of the two major ancient Greek epics, Homerand#8217;s
Odyssey, has been a classic of Western Literature for centuries. This new translation into spare, elegant blank verse, is certain to attract the same praise and admiration as Herbert Jordanand#8217;s translation of Homerand#8217;s
Iliad. This edition features maps of the Aegean region and Odysseusand#8217; travels, explanatory notes, a pronunciation glossary of nouns, and an index of similes.
Synopsis
One of the two major ancient Greek epics-and one of the most popular stories of all time-Homer's Odyssey has been a classic of Western literature for centuries. This translation into spare, elegant blank verse, is certain to attract the same praise and admiration as Herbert Jordan's previous rendition of Homer's Iliad. In keeping with the style of his Iliad, Jordan renders the Odyssey line-for-line in iambic pentameter, a pleasing five-beat meter used not only by Shakespeare but also by his contemporary George Chapman, the first great translator of Homer into English verse. Jordan deftly pilots Homer's dactyls and extended metaphors, capturing the essence of the poet's meanings while avoiding either an overly literal or colloquial style. This edition includes maps of the Aegean region and Odysseus' travels, explanatory notes, a pronunciation glossary of nouns, and an index of similes. E. Christian Kopff's introduction parses the Odyssey's meaning and intent and contextualizes the poem within the larger epic tradition. Readers never tire of the story of Odysseus' return home from the Trojan War. This lively and energetic rendition invites twenty-first-century readers and students of Homer's epic to experience these adventures as if for the first time. "A remarkably fresh and clear translation. As deceptively simple as an Attic frieze, it is at once true to its ancient original and inviting to readers today." Luc Sante, translator of F lix F n on's Novels in Three Lines Volume 49 in the Oklahoma Series in Classical Culture Herbert Jordan, an attorney, is an independent scholar of Greek. His highly acclaimed translation of the Iliad was published in 2008. E. Christian Kopff, Associate Professor of Classics at the University of Colorado, Boulder, is the editor of the Teubner critical Greek edition of Euripides' Bacchae.
About the Author
Herbert Jordan, an attorney, is an independent scholar of Greek. He resides in Roxbury, New York.
E. Christian Kopff, Associate Director of the Honors Program at the University of Colorado, Boulder, is the editor of a Greek edition of Euripidesand#39; Bacchae.