English Translators of Homer

Since Chapman made his famous translation at the end of the Elizabethan period, Homer and the translation of his works have had a central place in English literature. This book traces the great tradition of English translations of Homer, focusing in particular on the contributions of Chapman, Pope, E.V. Rieu and Christopher Logue – names which in themselves show the wide range of approaches which have been taken to Homer’s original. Translation is often seen as an expression of its age, and the author examines each period’s differing attitudes to Homer and to the translator’s task. Finally, in the post-War period as the study of translation itself has moved to the forefront of literary and cultural studies, this book provides a brief introduction to the main lines of contemporary thinking in this area, and illustrates them by examples from the tradition of English Homers.