James Foster answers “Which translation(s) would you recommend?”

Abdulla asked this question about The Iliad:

Which translation(s) would you recommend?

James Foster I like the Fagles, but still prefer the Lattimore. Of course, nothing compares to the Greek. But Lattimore comes closest. There is a cadence, and it m…moreI like the Fagles, but still prefer the Lattimore. Of course, nothing compares to the Greek. But Lattimore comes closest. There is a cadence, and it matters. The sounds of words matter, especially give the meter of the original. But of course, one can't sacrifice the story for the technicalities of the poetry. Both Fagles and Lattimore are vivid and exciting. And both do very well with the poetry. Bur, for me, after many, many readings, the Lattimore is the best.(less)

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