Depends on what you want it for; as with many classical works, there's an essential tension between literalist translation and rendering of the style.
My own personal favorite is A.S.L. Farquharson's translation (first published 1944, available nicely-bound in the Everyman's Library edition), based almost entirely on the flowing prose he produces in Book II.
Maxwell Staniforth's (1960s, I believe Penguin still has it in print) translation and Gregory Hays' (2000s, Modern Library IIRC) translations are also well-spoken of.
I haven't read the others, but Gregory Hays is very interesting, accessible and well written and gives a lot of interesting background and notes for almost every line. posted by amethysts at 4:51 AM on May 19
Seconding the Hays translation. His version is very clear and readable, with lots of notes. In addition, he very clearly indicates where a fragment is lost, untranslatable, or in contention, and usually includes an explanation in the notes explaining why. posted by Cassilda at 6:55 AM on May 19
« Older
What do the players of pro spo...
| I've been keeping track of pre...
Newer »
Subscribe
My own personal favorite is A.S.L. Farquharson's translation (first published 1944, available nicely-bound in the Everyman's Library edition), based almost entirely on the flowing prose he produces in Book II.
Maxwell Staniforth's (1960s, I believe Penguin still has it in print) translation and Gregory Hays' (2000s, Modern Library IIRC) translations are also well-spoken of.
And, hey, you can always learn Greek and read it in the original... :)
posted by ubernostrum at 10:04 PM on May 18