what to read next that isn't pynchon

[Guy Ian Scott Pursey]

Hi Jill

I'm reading 'The Odyssey' at the moment - before I started, I
procrastinated for a while, idly wondering which translation I should go
for. Ultimately, I went for the T.E. Lawrence (aka T.E. Shaw and
Lawrence of Arabia) translation as it's the one my Dad gave me when I
was a kid. I don't know how it stands compared with other translations -
I've heard he's a bit loose with the language and there are some
anachronisms... But I'm not familiar with the original text or its
language and I haven't read any other translation. I'm enjoying it so
far.

It's in prose though I've heard (as I'm sure you have) that other
translations are in verse.

I found this page which might help a little:
http://www.editoreric.com/greatlit/translations/Odyssey.html

I've read elsewhere that the Lattimore translation is the "best".

More recently, my Dad gave me a copy of 'Seven Pillars of Wisdom' (also
by Lawrence), which along with 'Against The Day' and 'Ulysses' I wanted
to get through before the end of year. (Ha!)

Guy


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pynchon-l at waste.org [mailto:owner-pynchon-l at waste.org] On
Behalf Of grladams at teleport.com
Sent: 29 July 2008 22:01
To: robinlandseadel at comcast.net; p-list
Subject: RE: what to read next that isn't pynchon

Thomas Mann's "Magic Mountain" is in a new English translation, (not
new-new but still new) that's supposed to be much better to read. I'd be
up
for that. I've always wanted to read the Odyssey but wondered if anyone
on
this list had a favorite English edition?

The Odyssey / Homer ; translated by Edward McCrorie, with an
introduction
and notes by Richard P. Martin; Johns Hopkins 2004
Odyssey / Homer ; translated by Lombardo, Stanley, 1943- ; introduction
by
Sheila Murnaghan.
The Odyssey / Homer ; translated by Robert Fitzgerald 1910-;
introduction
by D.S. Carne-Ross.
The Odyssey / Homer ; translated by Robert Fagles ; introduction and
notes
by Bernard Knox. Note: "This [pbk.] edition contains minor revisions of
the
text"--P. 496.
The odyssey / translated by Hammond, Martin, 1944- ; with an
introduction
by Jasper Griffin.
The odyssey of Homer / translated by George Herbert Palmer 1842-1933..
and many others I'm sure
Jill

Original Message:
-----------------
From:  robinlandseadel at comcast.net
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:45:12 +0000
To: pynchon-l at waste.org (P-list)
Subject: RE: what to read next that isn't pynchon


          "Henry" : 
          Big Book:  Isn't there a comparatively recent translation of 
          War and Peace that's supposed to be top drawer?  
          Anyone read it yet?

Anthony Briggs for Viking Press: 

http://www.amazon.com/War-Peace-Leo-Tolstoy/dp/067003469X

I bought my copy two years back, but between Proust & Pynchon,
my eyeballs are in search of shorter, more digestable works. Not to 
mention this mounting pile of metaphysical texts constantly demanding
my attention. Evola on Heremetics is proving to be quite the education:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Evola

In addition to W & P, there are two early 20th century masterworks
that seem to apply-Hesse's "The Glass Bead Game" and Thomas 
Mann's "Magic Mountain."

But I suspect the "open sesame" will be:

http://tinyurl.com/5vsju9

http://www.hermeticgoldendawn.org/Documents/Bios/regardie.htm


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