My goal during 2012 is to read at least one work per month, and that would put me at the "Thucydides Level". As it stands, I have several plays by both Aeschylus and Euripides yet to read, and a new translation of Aeschylus' The Oresteia, by Peter Meineck, that I plan to read (my sixth or seventh different Oresteia, I believe). I'm going to use the challenge to explore the comic plays of Aristophanes, and the poetry of Sappho, Empedocles, and Parmenides, as they're all new to me at this point in time.
I also have two translations of The Iliad on the TBR shelf that I want to read in 2012. One is a brand new translation by Anthony Verity (Oxford University Press, 2011) that was published in late-October. The other Iliad I have is a reread of the newly released revision of Richmond Lattimore's 1951 translation. This has a new Introduction, wonderful maps, a superb glossary, and is a beautifully hard-bound edition from the University of Chicago Press. I am very much looking forward to reading both of these translations.
I hope to see some of you joining us in this challenge too. I, for one, can't wait for the discussions to begin!
Thanks Christopher, good to have you along!
ReplyDeleteI'm excited about this - not for me, but because your posts keep introducing me to new Greek classics. You are costing me a lot of money, though... ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm tempted to join in but my knowledge of Greek literature is limited. In any case I look forward to reading your posts on the subject.
ReplyDeleteHa - I knew you'd join this one! I'm signed up too, but only at the Sophocles level. :-)
ReplyDeleteHey Everybody, thanks for stopping by! Yeah, I'm definitely stoked to be participating in this challenge, as it will keep me on task to get through some other plays and poetry that I simply must read. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteI saw this over at Jillian's (and I'm glad she's already commented because I always mess links up!) and I was thinking I have enough challenges going on. But I'm thinking about it... I'd go for a low level, I reckon. And I'd have to pick carefully - I have read so little Greek lit, and as I've told you before, The Iliad was so disastorous it's put me off a little. I'm going to look into it, it would be a shame to miss out on this when so many are doing it.
ReplyDeleteWoo hoo! Which translation of the Oresteia would you recommend?
ReplyDelete@Ingrid--
ReplyDeleteIngrid, I very much recommend the translation of The Oresteia by Robert Fagles (1975). The Penguin Classics edition of the Fagles translation comes with the Introduction by W.B. Stanford and Fagles that is simply monumental! I think it was this Introduction that cemented my love for reading the classics of the ancient Greeks. I can't wait for you to read The Oresteia, it truly is a life-altering experience! Cheers! Chris