Horace

Timeless meditations on the subjects of wine, parties, birthdays, love, and friendship, Horace’s Odes, in the words of classicist Donald Carne-Ross, make the “commonplace notable, even luminous.” This edition reproduces the highly lauded translation by James Michie. “For almost forty years,” poet and literary critic John Hollander notes, “James Michie’s brilliant translations of Horace have remained fresh as well as strong, and responsive to the varying lights and darks of the originals. It is a pleasure to have them newly available.”

With the Latin Text

Odes

Donald

This translation seemed really uneven. I admit I do not know Latin (except in the most limited way), but with the Latin original next to the translated text it seemed like the translator wrote in rhyme where no rhyme existed in the original... unless I totally don't understand how rhyming works in Latin. Similarly, sometimes the translator would match the stanza format of the Latin, but sometimes the translation would look totally different. Not sure why.

I liked the David Ferry translations more than these, but this was the translation at the library. I need to track down a copy of the Ferry translations, so I can finish reading them and compare.

Odes With the Latin Text

Reviews