Synopses & Reviews
This important new verse translation of the extant works and major fragments of Callimachus includes a full Introduction, covering the poet's life and times, the range of his achievements, and the difficulties in the way of appreciation. It does not offer, as other translations do, a mere selection of fragments but presents them as integral parts of the poetry books in which they originally figured, as these can be reconstructed in the light of modern research. Each fragment is introduced in relation to what precedes and follows it, enabling students and general readers, for the first time ever, to assess what Callimachus was like in his most important productions. In addition to this introductory help, the Notes take up individual points of difficulty, all proper names and adjectives are explained in the Glossary, and comparative tables facilitate identification of the translated fragments in the standard editions.
Review
"One of the great strengths of this translation is that, through presentation and supplementation, Nisetich provides his reader, particularly the non-specialist, with a very palatable feast of the often daunting fragments.... Nisetich's verse is elegant, his short lines providing smooth reading, and it is easy to see what moved H. Lloyd-Jones in his forward [sic] to Nisetich's translation of Pindar to say that he has 'a genuine gift for translation'.... It is clear that Nisetich has produced a superb piece of work. His translation is a valuable tool, making Callimachus more accessible than he has ever been in the past, and is surely destined to follow in the footsteps of his esteemed Pindar."--Bryn Mawr Classical Review