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Crossing the Wine Dark Sea by Emily Wilson review
The polarising translator of the Odyssey and the Iliad sets out her philosophy in this fascinating collection
TL;DR
- Emily Wilson's translations of the Odyssey and Iliad are considered standard English versions for their conciseness and fluency.
- Her new book explores the challenges and pleasures of translation, highlighting connections between ancient and modern times.
- Wilson critiques various translations and interpretations, including those of Robert Browning, Edith Hamilton, and Peter Green, for perceived shortcomings.
- She discusses the translation of Sappho, comparing it to reconstructing a dinosaur from a single claw and admiring Anne Carson's approach while critiquing its characterization.
- Wilson addresses the debate between 'familiarizers' and 'foreignizers' in translation, advocating for a middle ground that retains the original's strangeness while being reader-friendly.
- She explains her translation choices for the Odyssey, particularly the adjective 'polytropos' as 'complicated', and the depiction of the Sirens.
- Wilson offers a manifesto for translators, encouraging them to recreate the emotional effects of the original text and to experiment with new approaches.