Perhaps because Wilson is who she is, and the current linguistic restraint practiced by many, the traditionally masculine and chauvinistic language used in Homer's original and preceding translations needs to be modified. This is not uncommon in dealing with literature from earlier times, since new translations continue to emerge that approach the works from very different perspectives.
Part of her argument is that much of the chauvinistic language we're used to from Homer actually isn't even in the Greek but was an addition by 18th century translators. Which is one of the many fascinating aspects of her Translator's Note!
A few years back, I got to read her version and some of the others you mentioned in a class I took on translated literature. My storyteller brain preferred hers, but the part of me that appreciates aesthetics preferred Fagles. His translation of The Aenid is also quite good from what I recall, although the best version of that story is probably the 1979 film The Warriors. ;-)
Yeah, I think there's a real value to what she did here. One of the issues, I think, has to do with the ways we commodify literature. Everyone wants to find the Definitive Translation of this or that when the truth is that, if you're really interested, you should probably read a handful of translations and compare. And I don't really recommend doing something like that for 99% of readers, haha
I wonder to what extent your favored translation of the Odyssey is just a reflection of what aesthetic you like. "A complicated man" is artless, but I think it's the shift from Fagles' "pains" plural into Wilson's "pain" singular that really irks me. Feels like amorphous therapy jargon - I wouldn't be surprised if she said the cyclops got gaslit. But maybe that's an unfair prejudice on my part, and I prefer Fagles because I'm a thoroughly middle-brow pseudo-intellectual. :)
I think aesthetics are always going to lead to preference, absolutely, which is why I don't really advocate for one over another. Beyond these four, there are probably hundreds more and which one is preferred likely has everything to do with what kind of poetry someone likes.
Fagles won some major literary awards for his translations, so not exactly without high literary merit! I also like his the most of those four, though I haven't read the rest of his translation.
Man, it’s been so long since I read the Odyssey I can’t remember what translation I read. But based on the comparison chart you’ve got here I can understand why Fagles is beloved. I think he strikes a nice balance between high epic tone and plainspokenness. (I think I like Lawrence the least. He’s really over-egging the pudding!)
Perhaps because Wilson is who she is, and the current linguistic restraint practiced by many, the traditionally masculine and chauvinistic language used in Homer's original and preceding translations needs to be modified. This is not uncommon in dealing with literature from earlier times, since new translations continue to emerge that approach the works from very different perspectives.
Part of her argument is that much of the chauvinistic language we're used to from Homer actually isn't even in the Greek but was an addition by 18th century translators. Which is one of the many fascinating aspects of her Translator's Note!
Alexander Pope made one of the most florid of the 18th century versions, so I'm thinking a lot of that is his fault.
A few years back, I got to read her version and some of the others you mentioned in a class I took on translated literature. My storyteller brain preferred hers, but the part of me that appreciates aesthetics preferred Fagles. His translation of The Aenid is also quite good from what I recall, although the best version of that story is probably the 1979 film The Warriors. ;-)
WARRIORS! COME OUT AND PLAYYYYAAAAAYYYYYYY!
Yeah, I think there's a real value to what she did here. One of the issues, I think, has to do with the ways we commodify literature. Everyone wants to find the Definitive Translation of this or that when the truth is that, if you're really interested, you should probably read a handful of translations and compare. And I don't really recommend doing something like that for 99% of readers, haha
I wonder to what extent your favored translation of the Odyssey is just a reflection of what aesthetic you like. "A complicated man" is artless, but I think it's the shift from Fagles' "pains" plural into Wilson's "pain" singular that really irks me. Feels like amorphous therapy jargon - I wouldn't be surprised if she said the cyclops got gaslit. But maybe that's an unfair prejudice on my part, and I prefer Fagles because I'm a thoroughly middle-brow pseudo-intellectual. :)
I think aesthetics are always going to lead to preference, absolutely, which is why I don't really advocate for one over another. Beyond these four, there are probably hundreds more and which one is preferred likely has everything to do with what kind of poetry someone likes.
Fagles won some major literary awards for his translations, so not exactly without high literary merit! I also like his the most of those four, though I haven't read the rest of his translation.
Man, it’s been so long since I read the Odyssey I can’t remember what translation I read. But based on the comparison chart you’ve got here I can understand why Fagles is beloved. I think he strikes a nice balance between high epic tone and plainspokenness. (I think I like Lawrence the least. He’s really over-egging the pudding!)
Agreed!
Chances are that you read the Fitzgerald version. I think it was the standard for decades and was definitely the one I read in middle school.