this post was submitted on 06 Feb 2026
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I know this totally makes me "that guy", but it could very well be a signed first edition of a specific translation of the Iliad.
I don't think I know anyone who cares that much about a translator's signature, but who knows?
The Iliad is actually a great example for this, because the recent translation of it by Emily Wilson received a lot of praise, and I know a few people who work in that field and would of be extatic to have a signed copy of it.
Nerds do. I wouldn’t mind a signed copy of Tolkien’s Beowulf.
That reminds me. A friend of mine translated a German Longsword fighting manual. I need to get her to sign my copy.
About twenty years ago, I've read a hilarious rant by a translator of 'Dune', included with the translation itself. The dude complained that some lazy translators don't account for the fact that English-speaking countries were deeply religious for millennia, and authors could rely on readers' familiarity with the Bible — while translators in my language are generally less versed in it. He recounted that someone managed to translate the words 'Mosaic law' as 'law of mosaic', i.e. the art form, instead of 'law of Moses'. I don't remember the translator's name (edit: found it in my notes: Pavel Vyaznikov), but his words are etched in my memory, and I wouldn't mind reading more of his opinions. They're also the reason why I myself at least tried reading the Bible.
Tallhoffer?
Meyer, 1570
I don’t know how much I’m allowed to spam links, but someone else asked where to find it and I shared a link to it there.
Is it available online? Never know when I might need to know how to use a German longsword.
It is. https://www.hemabookshelf.com/meyer-translation
I'm sure the Jlo slop vehicle meant this
Oh yeah, I know that's not what they were going for but... like I said, "that guy".
Fitzgerald or Lattimore?
Hit that Pope translation. Heroic couplets ftw.
Well, I am due for a re-read. Thanks for the suggestion!
It is a great tight translation to the text. Pope uses the Roman names for most of the characters which I find a turn off. But Pope's translation is really tight considering his iambic AA BB CC limitations. It is really an amazing work of English.