A classic by Clive James. Posting for no particular reason…

I've just signed a contract with Liveright Books (an imprint of Norton) for a translation of Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations," with intro and notes. I know, I know, the poet with the spazziest mind translating the Emperor with the calmest mind. No doubt it will be good for me.

An enlightening interview with Rafey Habib and Bruce B. Lawrence about their monumental new QUR'AN: A VERSE TRANSLATION. newbooksnetwork.com/the-quran-a-ve… #quran #translation #newbook

"The limitless wrath of Achilles can end only once he recognizes that no absolute, permanent victory is ever possible. Everyone must bear unbearable losses, for which no compensation could ever be enough. In the end, we all lose. ..."

" ... Our best hope is to accept partial, temporary limits on conflict, accepting human companionship and community as our only, always inadequate, compensation for the pervasive experience of loss."

--Emily Wilson, from the introduction to her translation of Homer's Iliad, publishing tomorrow, August 6th, in paperback. wwnorton.com/books/97813240…

Happy Pub Day to this stunner! @EmilyRCWilson W. W. Norton & Company Homer

What's all this about "western culture" vanishing, the "neglect of the classics," and all that goomy chatter? Here it is, fresh as ever, the great wellspring. The gods and heroes, cleansed, revitalized My fall reading is set. It's never too late to start over from the beginning

“[A] surprisingly moving exploration of the courage required to play life’s many roles. Berlinski deserves a standing ovation for this bravura performance.” publishersweekly.com/978-1-324-0952…

👀 nbcnews.com/politics/2024-…

“In the final weeks of the campaign, she has traveled with her own regular companion: a copy of “The Iliad” … [translated] by University of Pennsylvania classicist Emily Wilson” nbcnews.com/politics/2024-…

“Berlinski deserves a standing ovation for this bravura performance.” Starred, boxed rave from Publishers Weekly ! 🤩🤩🤩

This for everything

"Oh, you've never read The Odyssey???" Your timing is perfect. Emily Wilson's translation is the best one in literally ages, has that sweet iambic pentameter to give it a "bouncy" feel, & makes dudebros cry that the classic has "gone woke". 😁

Idc about the Emily Wilson translation discourse I just want you all to know she's responsible for the line that lives in my head rent free

Thrilling discovery of a #Pompeii bathhouse! I'm also enthusiastic about the earrings which are of a style called 'crotalia'. They were v fashionable in the 1st century and made little rattling noises as the pearls swung together. Moralist Pliny hated them bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

Congratulations to Christian Kracht and translator Daniel Bowles, whose novel EUROTRASH has been named to the #InternationalBooker2025 longlist! Learn more about this probing masterpiece-in-miniature of self-reflection and cultural reckoning: wwnorton.com/books/97813240…

We'll all be singing the song this fall.