Hello, historians of Reddit. my question is: is Lattimore still the best when it comes to the Illiad and the odyssey? or are there better versions? (perhaps translations is a better word)
I want fidelity(AKA being closest to the original) since I don't read ancient Greek, I don't mind being a bit hard to read
thank you all.
When you're talking about "closest" it gets tricky. Are you talking about the closest to the meter? Closest to the energy? Closest to the readability of the time? etc. There are so many different things to consider. If you're just talking about accuracy to the story, there are many many options.
Personally, I prefer Lattimore. I have read Fagles, Mitchell, Lattimore, and a few other less interesting versions. Lattimore is the most engaging as an English reader. However, many people who don't read a lot of classics prefer Fagles. You should read a few pages of each and make your own decision.
If you enjoy poetry and want to find a wonderful translation of the Aeneid, I would HIGHLY suggest Dryden. That piece is absolutely wonderful.