English Translations from the Greek: A Bibliographical Survey by Foster

(8 User reviews)   4540
By Jacob Brown Posted on Dec 22, 2025
In Category - Hard Sci-Fi
Foster, Finley Melville Kendall, 1892-1953 Foster, Finley Melville Kendall, 1892-1953
English
Ever wonder how all those ancient Greek stories made it into English? There's a whole hidden history behind the translations on your bookshelf. Finley Foster's book is like a detective story about books themselves. He tracks down who translated what, when, and how, from Homer's epics to obscure philosophical texts. It's not just a dry list; it's about the people who tried to capture the spirit of Greek thought in a new language, sometimes brilliantly, sometimes badly. If you've ever picked up a copy of Plato or Sophocles and thought, 'Who actually wrote *this* version?', Foster starts to give you the answers. It's a backstage pass to the library.
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facts concerning each translation are presented in one place. A word, perhaps, is necessary in the way of definition of translation. In this list I have aimed to include only such works as profess to be English renderings of Greek writings. In some cases, chiefly before 1700, the English translation was made from a French, Italian, or Latin version of the Greek original. So far as possible, such instances have been noted. I have not included adaptations, paraphrases, and the like; nor have I attempted to record solitary translations of excerpts from Greek literature. A book of translations in the literal sense of the word has been my basis for entering a title in the following list. The author would be the last one to claim infallibility for this list. One has but to attempt to gather together any considerable number of titles on a given subject to come to a realization of the difficulties of the work. “Here a little and there a little” is a true text in any such undertaking; and two translations in a bushel of books is no rare occurrence. I have listed the facts as I have been able to gather them; but I dare not vouch that in all cases they are complete. I hope some of the more elusive ones will be added at some future time. The contents of the two introductory sections sum up certain ideas which have occurred to me as I have been working over this material. The sections are intended to suggest rather than to solve the problems which English translation from the Greek presents. A discussion of the introduction of the literature of one nation into that of another by means of translation is not new; but a discussion of such translations as forming a continuous thread of influence is perhaps slightly different from any hitherto set forth. A series of studies of translations into English from various literatures might add something to our present understanding of literary influences. If this book furnishes the basis for some such study of the interrelations between Greek and English literatures, the labor spent upon it will not have been expended in vain. I am especially indebted to Professors Ashley H. Thorndike and William Peterfield Trent of Columbia University, to whom I owe much for their thoughtful advice and assistance. Their continual interest did much to make a lonely task a pleasant one. F.M.K.F. DELAWARE COLLEGE NEWARK, DELAWARE February 28, 1918 INTRODUCTION I. The Growth of Translation [Illustration: Growth of translation] The Growth of Greek Translation. The solid line is original and reprinted translations; the dashed line is original translations only. The history of English translation from the Greek is almost coincident with the history of English printing. In 1477 William Caxton set up his press in London and from that press in 1484 he issued his own translation of Aesop’s _Fables_. The real beginning of serious translation, as is very evident from the chart accompanying this section, was made in the decade 1530‐1540. From that time until the time of the Civil War and the Protectorate there was a steady output of translations, not many as compared with our day, but a proportion consistent with the size of the reading public of the time. In the one hundred and thirty years between 1520 and 1650, one hundred and seventy‐nine translations were published. Of these one hundred and fourteen were new translations and sixty‐five were reprintings. That two‐ thirds of the total number are new translations is not surprising; for with the awakening of interest in Greek which took place...

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Forget novels or epic poems. The 'story' here is the surprising journey of Greek ideas into the English language. Finley Foster's book is a guide, a massive checklist, and a historical record all in one. He systematically catalogs English translations of Greek works published up to his time. He organizes it by author—like Homer, Aristotle, or Euripides—and then lists the different translations that exist for each of their works. He often includes notes about the translators themselves and the quality of their work. The plot, such as it is, follows the evolution of translation style over centuries, showing how our understanding of the Greeks changed.

Why You Should Read It

This isn't a book you read cover-to-cover like a thriller. You dip into it. The magic is in the connections it helps you make. You might look up a translation of a play you love and discover there were five other versions published in the 1800s, each with a different feel. It gives you a new appreciation for the words on the page, reminding you that a translation is an interpretation. It turns the quiet, often-invisible work of translators into a grand, collective project spanning generations. For anyone who loves old books, it feels like a treasure map.

Final Verdict

This is a specialist's book, but it has a wider charm. It's perfect for students of classics, librarians, or collectors who need a reliable reference. But it's also great for the deeply curious general reader who loves literary history. If you enjoy getting lost in footnotes, wondering about the 'how' behind the books you read, and have a soft spot for meticulous, old-school scholarship, you'll find it fascinating. Just don't expect a narrative—expect a wonderfully organized, opinionated museum of words.



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Kevin White
1 year ago

The formatting on this digital edition is flawless.

Susan Jackson
9 months ago

I was skeptical at first, but the depth of research presented here is truly commendable. This story will stay with me.

Matthew Taylor
11 months ago

Simply put, the content flows smoothly from one chapter to the next. Truly inspiring.

Jackson Clark
1 year ago

Clear and concise.

Richard Young
1 year ago

I started reading out of curiosity and it challenges the reader's perspective in an intellectual way. Definitely a 5-star read.

4.5
4.5 out of 5 (8 User reviews )

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