Overview
Ancient Greek Lyrics collects Willis Barnstone's elegant translations of
Greek lyric poetry -- including the most complete Sappho in English, newly
translated. This volume includes a representative sampling of all the significant
poets, from Archilochos, in the 7th century BCE, through Pindar and the other great
singers of the classical age, down to the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods.
William E. McCulloh's introduction illuminates the forms and development of the
Greek lyric while Barnstone provides a brief biographical and literary sketch for
each poet and adds a substantial introduction to Sappho -- revised for this edition
-- complete with notes and sources. A glossary and updated bibliography are
included.
Editorials
The Classical Bulletin
"Armed with this book a teacher can more readily convince the Greekless that Greek lyric poetry was one of the supreme achievements of literary history." —The Classical BulletinNew Letters
"There have been many translations of Sappho's work by gifted and well-meaning writers.... None quite connects the shards and fragments with the same satisfying verve and flair as Willis Barnstone. Barnstone is one of the greatest translators of literary expression from a foreign language into English." —New LettersForeWord
"With the work of more than seventy poets from the Greek, Hellenistic, Byzantine, and Roman periods, the distinguished translator Willis Barnstone offers us a very rich selection....William E. McCulloh’s fine introduction traces the development of the Greek lyric, while Barnstone’s notes on the poets provide valuable contexts. It is hard to conceive of a more satisfying anthology than this...." —Peter Skinner, ForeWord, Jan./Feb. 2010— Peter Skinner