99 Poems in Translation [Paperback]

Harold Pinter (Compiler), Anthony Astbury (Compiler), Geoffrey Godbert (Compiler)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 7, 1997

Full of surprising juxtapositions and possessed of a gargantuan range of voices and styles, 99 Poems in Translation is a unique convergence of some of the world’s most beautiful poetry. The poets range from Anna Akhmatova to Yuan Chen, from Charles Baudelaire to Virgil, each of them translated into memorable English by such poetic luminaries as Ben Johnson, Elizabeth Bishop, and Robert Graves. Arranged alphabetically, this collection span centuries and continents.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Anthologies are seemingly making a comeback. This one is designed to represent some of the finest poetry--living poets excluded--in translation and, ostensibly, to provide a far-reaching overview of the tradition of translation. But given the fact that none of the poems is accompanied by its original text, and that the collection is peppered with quirky, if wonderful, choices, it is perhaps best not read too studiously. Paging through the poems (each rarely running for more than a page) becomes a delightful chance to catch, say, a riotous piece by Antiphanes entitled "Piddle-paddling race of critics, rhizome-fanciers," and then, on the next page, a beautiful translation by W. S. Merwin of Guillaume Apollinaire's "Le Pont Mirabeau." One notices the enormous energy of the Latin American poets Pablo Neruda and Cesar Vallejo, as opposed to the more subtle refinements of the French poets Paul Eluard and Henri Michaux. The cacaphony of voices, the range of styles, cultures, and time periods, and, above all, the humor with which these selections were made, makes this an immensely enjoyable anthology.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

This anthology, which is being promoted as a companion to Pinter's prior anthology, 100 Poems by 100 Poets (Grove/Atlantic, 1987), aims to present a selection of favorite poems from other languages. But while Pinter's credentials as a writer of plays and movie scripts are irreproachable, his skill as an arbiter of poetry in translation is less impressive. Although there is a chronological list of poets, an index of translators (98 of them, mostly English), and first lines, this anthology offers no rationale for the choice of poems or translators. (Poems are printed in alphabetical order by the poet's last name.) The editors reveal a decidedly European (and male) bias: 19 French poets are represented, but none from Africa or India; few from Asia, Eastern Europe, or the Middle East; and hardly any women. Rilke is represented not by his immortal "The Panther" but by a minor poem, and Yehuda Amichai, Joseph Brodsky, Tomas Transtromer, and Paul Valery are excluded altogether. Interesting but too casual an effort to be of use to a library.
Frank Allen, West Virginia State Coll., Institute
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 149 pages
• Publisher: Grove Press; 1st Pbk. Ed edition (February 7, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802134890
• ISBN-13: 978-0802134899
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,491,928 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The greatest anthology of translated poems I've ever read, January 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: 99 Poems in Translation (Paperback)

I thought this anthology of translated poems was fantastic. As a layperson and ignorant of most languages, I can't comment on the fidelity of many of the translations to the originals. But in terms of their impact in English, the great majority of the translations in this book qualify as some of the best poetry I've ever read.

One minor criticism I have of this book is that it doesn't reproduce the poems anthologised in their original language. That's a shame. For the informed reader, it is always useful to know how close a translation is to the original. On a related note, it would've been useful to have a preface by the translators telling us what criteria they used to decide which poems to include. But these are minor quibbles.

The translations in this anthology are clearly the best of their art. This is a brilliant book. Buy it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting personal tastes from Heavens to Hell, April 3, 2007

By 

Gary Sprandel (Frankfort, Kentucky) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 99 Poems in Translation (Paperback)

This selection of foreign language poems was picked by playwright Harold Pinter, along with the Astbury and Godbert, directors of Greville Press. This does not represent the most famous poems, but rather very interesting personal tastes. Arranged alphabetically, the book starts with the Russian poet Anna Akhmatova ("But the exile is for ever pitiful to me, / like a prisoner, like a sick man. / Your road is dark, wanderer; alien corn smells of wormwood.") and ends somberly with 9th century Chinese poet Yuan Chen An Elegy "We joked, long ago, about one of us dying, / But suddenly, before me eyes, you are gone.").

Along the way, are some interesting juxtapositions: "The Lark" by de Ventadron is next to :"The Vulture" by Blok; Garcia Lorca's "The faithless wife" next to Li Po "The River Merchant's Wife: a Letter:, and Edith Sodergran';s "Hell" is next to Gaspara Stampa "All the planets in heaven, all the stars". So this book is a nice variety, and will introduce you to some new poets.