The Penguin Book of Greek and Latin Lyric Verse

The Penguin Book of Greek and Latin Lyric Verse is a newly translated anthology of Greek and Latin lyric poetry, composed between 800 BCE and Imperial Rome. It is as densely rich in formal interrelation and allusion as anything we know in English verse, but much of this fascinating interplay is inaccessible to the reader in English translation. Chris Childers has sought to remedy this by translating the most representative and significant poems from both languages in a single volume, according to consistent principles of translation.

Format: Hardback
Length: 1008 pages
Publication date: 28 March 2024
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Composed between the early-agricultural song culture of 800 BCE, when praise poems and dirges mingled in a world peopled with gods and monsters, and the time of Imperial Rome, the corpus of Greek and Latin lyric poetry is as densely rich in formal interrelation and allusion as anything we know in English verse. Poets like the Greek Callimachus and the Roman Horace self-consciously modeled themselves on earlier bards - Sappho and Mimnermus, Pindar and Alcaeus - and produced poetry thick with references and resonances from the work of their exemplars. Yet, as a rule, for the reader in English translation, much of this fascinating interplay is inaccessible. One translator approaches a given poet in one way; another translator approaches the next poet in another. We receive the part, but lose the whole.

In an undertaking of astonishing ambition, Chris Childers has sought to remedy this situation by translating the most representative and significant poems from both languages in a single volume, and according to consistent principles of translation. No other book now available so much as attempts this. A decade in the making, The Penguin Book of Greek and Latin Lyric Verse gives us back the full complexity and play of two immortal traditions as we have never seen them before.

The Greek lyric tradition, which flourished from the 8th century BCE to the 4th century CE, is characterized by its focus on the individual and the expression of personal emotions. Poets like Sappho, Pindar, and Bacchylides were known for their use of vivid imagery, metaphor, and simile to convey their messages. They often wrote about love, desire, nature, and the human condition, and their poems were celebrated for their beauty and emotional power.

The Roman lyric tradition, on the other hand, emerged in the 1st century BCE and continued to evolve until the 4th century CE. Poets like Horace, Virgil, and Ovid were known for their use of formal verse structures, such as the ode and the epigram, and their attention to classical themes and subjects. They wrote about politics, history, philosophy, and the nature of the human soul, and their poems were admired for their wit, sophistication, and moral depth.

The Penguin Book of Greek and Latin Lyric Verse brings together the best of these two traditions in a single volume. Childers has selected poems from a wide range of poets, including Sappho, Pindar, Bacchylides, Horace, Virgil, and Ovid, and has translated them with a sensitivity and clarity that allows the reader to fully appreciate the beauty and power of these ancient poems.

One of the key features of Childers' translation is his commitment to preserving the formal and stylistic elements of the original poems. He has sought to reproduce the rhythm, meter, and rhyme of the original Greek and Latin, and has avoided the temptation to simplify or modernize the language. This approach allows the reader to experience the full force and impact of the original poems, and to appreciate the subtlety and complexity of the language.

Another important aspect of Childers' translation is his ability to convey the emotional and psychological depth of the poems. He has sought to capture the nuances of the original language and to convey the complex emotions and thoughts of the poets. This is particularly evident in his translations of the love poems of Sappho and Horace, which are renowned for their intensity and emotional honesty.

Childers' translation also provides valuable insights into the cultural and historical context of the poems. He has provided brief introductions to each poem, explaining the background and significance of the poet and the poem's place in the broader literary tradition. This helps the reader to understand the context in which the poems were written and to appreciate the cultural and historical significance of the poems.

In conclusion, The Penguin Book of Greek and Latin Lyric Verse is a remarkable achievement. It is a testament to the power and beauty of ancient Greek and Latin lyric poetry, and to the skill and dedication of Chris Childers as a translator. This book provides a valuable resource for scholars, students, and anyone who is interested in the history, culture, and literature of these two ancient traditions. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to experience the full complexity and play of these two immortal traditions as we have never seen them before.

Weight: 1300g
Dimension: 250 x 160 x 50 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780241567449