Herodotus/Books I-II (Loeb Classical Library, No. 117)

Rating:
Summary: achtung!
Review: A question for this volume's previous reviewer: if the quality of the translation matters so much, why even buy H's Histories in Greek? In fact, if you, prospective buyer, want a great translation, forget about Loeb. Recreating in English (as Loeb does) Greek syntax, grammar and sentence structure often results in awkward, harsh prose. H's Histories did not sound awkward or at all unnatural to the ears of ancient readers, so Loeb's strictly-by-the-book accuracy, while a boon for the translator, actually renders an inaccurate picture of the text for the casual reader. Contrary to what the previous reviewer has said, then, Aubrey De Selincourt's translation (Penguin press) is actually very faithful and accurate in every way that matters, managing to be smooth and eminently readable while minimally dishonest to the original text.

That said, I encourage you, prospective reader, to consider whether you want a translation of the Greek or the Greek itself. If a translation, buy Penguin's. If the Greek, Loeb is fine: using its translation to see how an expert deals with certain constructions and translation issues can be of great assistance. Personally, I prefer Oxford's editions, though for mostly aesthetic reasons; theirs use better paper, better bindings, are better looking, and their Greek typeface is less crowded--and thus easier to read--than Loeb's. Amazon's look inside option will give you a sample of each volume, in case you'd like to compare them for yourself (you'll need to do an advanced book search: author, herodotus; title, historiae [you'll need to search for 'volume I' and 'volume II' separately]; publisher, oxford university press). Oxford classical texts, however, don't come with a translation--a problem easily rectified if you're willing to spend an extra $7 on Penguin's H. (Actually, I prefer not to have a translation availible when I read Greek, since a very thin and easy-to-cross line separates checking one's translations against that of an expert, and using that expert's work as a crutch.)

The two editions cost about as much as one another, so your only choice is between the better-designed but less beginner-friendly Herodotus text from Oxford (two volumes), and the beginner-friendly but smaller and less 'kalos' text from Loeb (four volumes).

Rating:
Summary: No series captures Herodotus like Loeb (forget Penguin!).
Review: Designed with both the amateur and the professional classicist in mind the Loeb series captures Herodotus (and all the other authors I have read) better than any other series. Unlike other publishers (for example Penguin) the Loeb seems truer to the original Greek, although my skill at reading ancient Greek is by no means exceptional; however, I can honestly tell a difference between the Loeb and the economy-translations. The Loebs may cost a bit more than these other translations, but the price is worth it: they are extremely well made. There are, of course, other good translations of Herodotus, such as the <<Portable Greek Historian>> but this text only contains portions of Herodotus' work. I recommend the Loeb version to anyone seeking not just an excellent translation but a piece to add to their library as well.

Rating:
Summary: No series captures Herodotus like Loeb (forget Penguin!).
Review: Designed with both the amateur and the professional classicist in mind the Loeb series captures Herodotus (and all the other authors I have read) better than any other series. Unlike other publishers (for example Penguin) the Loeb seems truer to the original Greek, although my skill at reading ancient Greek is by no means exceptional; however, I can honestly tell a difference between the Loeb and the economy-translations. The Loebs may cost a bit more than these other translations, but the price is worth it: they are extremely well made. There are, of course, other good translations of Herodotus, such as the <> but this text only contains portions of Herodotus' work. I recommend the Loeb version to anyone seeking not just an excellent translation but a piece to add to their library as well.

Rating:
Summary: achtung:
Review: There is no reason for you to buy this book.

If you're a student of the classics and competent enough in ancient greek that you are prepared to read Herodotus in the original language, make use of your university's library, since it probably has the complete Loeb collection.

If you're a student of the classics who doesn't know ancient greek, buy Penguin's edition. Its translation (by Aubrey de Selincourt) is exceptionally faithful to the original without ever sounding stilted or stuffy; one would condemn it for gross inaccuracy only if one had never read Herodotus in ancient greek. Like all translations, de Selincourt's has problems, but these are minimal.

Loeb editions are not for home libraries; they're for universities.

<< 1 >>