I agree - Fry's retellings of the Greek Myths are very good and make the tales accessible to a new audience which is all to the good.
But for the full impact reading a good trans of Homer has great merit and even greater rewards. I would love to have been able to read it in the Greek but was unable to learn it. I did, however, have a keen and enthusiastic Latin teacher for all my secondary years which means I can enjoy Virgil's "Aeneid" in both the original and the trans.
This very morning my eye fell on an advertisement for Daniel Mendelsohn's trans of "The Odyssey" which included the remark that it is faithful to the original metre.
Thanks for this information, I've purchased the Fagles Odyssey and will keep the others in mind. And thanks for your pointers on the videos. The screen won't be huge but will have to do, and subtitles aren't a problem. I'll be looking out for those scenes you mention. I didn't see The Return and will keep it in mind for future viewing. I can't quite like Matt Damon for this next Odyssey go round, but let's see.
Wonderful to be planning a trip to Troy. I think if your son decides to throw down the spear he should do so in full costume!
I have loved the stories of the Greek epics ever since being introduced to them in my childhood. Have never read the complete tellings of the Odyssey, the Iliad and others, and your article makes me want to do just that. Would you recommend the Fagles version? I very much feel the presences of the gods in the various life situations I have lived through, and made art about them too. I introduced them to my children, and other mythologies as well, and they've always loved these old stories. Thanks so much for providing links to the Armande Assante videos.. I once hoped to view this particular Odyssey on video, but the video cassette I rented was not able to be shown in the Pacific-NZ region - how frustrating! Am now looking forward to it with much pleasurable anticipation.
Thanks so much for your comment. As to the text - Emily Wilson's translations of both the Iliad and the Odyssey have been well reviewed and I enjoyed them immensely. That said, Fagles trans of the Iliad is probably one of the most violent and bloody stories that I have read. He is unsparing. But he captures the essence of the conflict and makes Achilles as complex as Odysseus.
Emily Wilson brings a different perspective and is the first woman to trans Homer.
I will be interested to see what Daniel Medelsohn does with the tales.
We have a visit to Troy planned for next year. Our adult son (a classics major) is accompanying. He made mention the other night of whether he should throw a spear into the ground upon arrival a la Alexander.
Enjoy the videos - the quality is excellent but watch them on the biggest screen possible. There are subtitles but that isn't a drawback. Let me know what you think.
The depiction of the "bow of Odysseus" and the end of the suitors is perhaps one of the best renderings of a tale into film I have seen (with perhaps the exception of the arrival of the Rohirrim at Minas Tirith in "The Return of the King".
One of the images that is well done is that of power and the stance and attitudes of Menelaus and Agammenon when they arrive at Ithaca early in the story. Not a word is said but the images say it all.
It will be interesting to see what Chris Nolan and Matt Damon do with it. Fiennes in "The Return" was excellent.
Enjoy it all.
I might say that the Goddess and I have a special relationship. She is on my keyring and I was very impressed when we drove into Athens that in the Greek (that much I can read) the city is called Athena.
Thank you Halfling, Stephen Fry has written “Odyssey” which is an easy and entertaining read of a hero’s way home
Go well. Steve
Thanks Sally,
I agree - Fry's retellings of the Greek Myths are very good and make the tales accessible to a new audience which is all to the good.
But for the full impact reading a good trans of Homer has great merit and even greater rewards. I would love to have been able to read it in the Greek but was unable to learn it. I did, however, have a keen and enthusiastic Latin teacher for all my secondary years which means I can enjoy Virgil's "Aeneid" in both the original and the trans.
This very morning my eye fell on an advertisement for Daniel Mendelsohn's trans of "The Odyssey" which included the remark that it is faithful to the original metre.
https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/O/bo243090734.html
Well worth some further investigation I should think.
I will report in due course.
Thanks for this information, I've purchased the Fagles Odyssey and will keep the others in mind. And thanks for your pointers on the videos. The screen won't be huge but will have to do, and subtitles aren't a problem. I'll be looking out for those scenes you mention. I didn't see The Return and will keep it in mind for future viewing. I can't quite like Matt Damon for this next Odyssey go round, but let's see.
Wonderful to be planning a trip to Troy. I think if your son decides to throw down the spear he should do so in full costume!
I have loved the stories of the Greek epics ever since being introduced to them in my childhood. Have never read the complete tellings of the Odyssey, the Iliad and others, and your article makes me want to do just that. Would you recommend the Fagles version? I very much feel the presences of the gods in the various life situations I have lived through, and made art about them too. I introduced them to my children, and other mythologies as well, and they've always loved these old stories. Thanks so much for providing links to the Armande Assante videos.. I once hoped to view this particular Odyssey on video, but the video cassette I rented was not able to be shown in the Pacific-NZ region - how frustrating! Am now looking forward to it with much pleasurable anticipation.
Sheryl
Thanks so much for your comment. As to the text - Emily Wilson's translations of both the Iliad and the Odyssey have been well reviewed and I enjoyed them immensely. That said, Fagles trans of the Iliad is probably one of the most violent and bloody stories that I have read. He is unsparing. But he captures the essence of the conflict and makes Achilles as complex as Odysseus.
Emily Wilson brings a different perspective and is the first woman to trans Homer.
I will be interested to see what Daniel Medelsohn does with the tales.
We have a visit to Troy planned for next year. Our adult son (a classics major) is accompanying. He made mention the other night of whether he should throw a spear into the ground upon arrival a la Alexander.
Enjoy the videos - the quality is excellent but watch them on the biggest screen possible. There are subtitles but that isn't a drawback. Let me know what you think.
The depiction of the "bow of Odysseus" and the end of the suitors is perhaps one of the best renderings of a tale into film I have seen (with perhaps the exception of the arrival of the Rohirrim at Minas Tirith in "The Return of the King".
One of the images that is well done is that of power and the stance and attitudes of Menelaus and Agammenon when they arrive at Ithaca early in the story. Not a word is said but the images say it all.
It will be interesting to see what Chris Nolan and Matt Damon do with it. Fiennes in "The Return" was excellent.
Enjoy it all.
I might say that the Goddess and I have a special relationship. She is on my keyring and I was very impressed when we drove into Athens that in the Greek (that much I can read) the city is called Athena.