Illiad

>>8537847

A lot of the formal qualities of the poetry are necessarily lost in translation

Also it's essential reading if you're in any way interested in the intellectual history of western civilisation, if only for the influence it had on other writers

i know this is a negative thread about the book, but what is the best translation?

>>8537852
Would a translation which retains the rhyme scheme be better or worse than a translation which sticks to the point? I've read one which retains the rhyme scheme.

>>8537887
Every translation is a compromise

>>8537887
I would tend to think the translator is taking liberties in making it rhyme and fit the meter, but like >>8537954 says, none will be perfect

>>8537853

Fagles

The Iliad is very important and should be read, even though, yes, with no cultural reference, listing the different batallions of Argives for a dozen pages is incredibly boring.

That being said, the Odyssey is better and its influence is much more related to more contemporary writing.