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[return to "The Odyssey by Homer, Translated by Samuel Butler"]
1. herodo+98[view] [source] 2023-07-17 14:30:58
>>agomez+(OP)
Warning: Do not read this translation!

OK, that may be a bit harsh. But the danger is that a translation that is out-of-date or badly done will turn you off the book. Many classic books whose translations are now beyond copyright are available for free. But these translations are, generally speaking, poor. To really appreciate these books, find a translation that is up-to-date and that suits your reading style.

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2. adrian+Ll[view] [source] 2023-07-17 15:37:40
>>herodo+98
My opinion is that any ancient writings are best read in a bilingual edition (like those of the Loeb collection), even when you do not know well or at all the original language.

When you also have the original text, whenever there is a more interesting or obscure paragraph you can look to see what was really said, possibly with the help of a dictionary.

Even when the translation is good, the translator cannot stop at each sentence and explain why certain English words have been chosen, which may be the closest to what was said, or they may be not, but the translator has thought that the chosen translation is easier to understand for an average reader.

The older translations (and perhaps the future translations, taking into account the current trends) also avoided to translate whatever words were considered offensive when the translation was done.

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