Stanley F. Lombardo crafts translations of classical epics with a distinctive vernacular style, prioritizing conversational English over formal tones. His work is intentionally designed for oral performance, aiming to recreate the experience of ancient Greek recitations. Lombardo's approach breathes new life into foundational texts, making them accessible and engaging for contemporary readers through dynamic and performative renditions.
Lao-tzu's classic Chinese manual on the art of living examines the basic predicaments of being alive, and gives advice that aims to impart balance and perspective, and a serene and generous spirit. Stephen Mitchell's translation sets out to retain the original's feeling of grace and deep wisdom.
The Dionysiaca of Nonnus of Panopolis
Provides the first English verse translation of one of the most extraordinary poems of the Greek literary tradition, the Dionysiaca of Nonnus of Panopolis. The Dionysiaca is by far the longest poem surviving from the classical world, a massive mythological epic stretching to over 20,000 lines, written in the tradition of Homer.
"Gripping... Lombardo's achievement is all the more striking when you consider the difficulties of his task... (He) manages to be respectful of Homer's dire spirit while providing on nearly every page some wonderfully fresh refashioning of his Greek. The result is a vivid and disarmingly hardbitten reworking of a great classic." — Daniel Mendelsohn, The New York Times Book Review