T. E. Lawrence, The Odyssey of Homer

Chris Joyce (University of Cambridge)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 6.1.3: Middle-Eastern Arabic Writing and Culture: Modern and Contemporary.
Vol. editors: Ziad Elmarsafy (King's College London), Claire Gallien (Université Paul Valéry Montpellier 3), Nora Parr (SOAS, University of London), Rita Sakr (Maynooth University), Anastasia Valassopoulos (University of Manchester)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1932

Places

England (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Translation

Resources

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Towards the end of 1927, with

Seven Pillars of Wisdom

and

The Mint

behind him, Lawrence was approached by Bruce Rogers, an American book designer, to undertake a translation of Homer’s

Odyssey

. At first, he demurred – “Something about this

Odyssey

effort frightens me. … Homer is very very great: and so far away” [letter, 16 April 1928]; but he was at the same time – characteristically – attracted by the proposition, and offered a sample chapter (and to discuss fees). He was soon working steadily on the project. In his prefatory “Translator’s Note”, he offers a less exalted view of his subject than previously: “The author misses his every chance of greatness, as must all his faithful translators” – this perhaps by way of justifying his approach. It provides the…

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532 words

Citation: Joyce, Chris. "The Odyssey of Homer". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 22 September 2008 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=24738, accessed 24 November 2024.]

T. E. Lawrence, The Odyssey of Homer

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