Works and Days and Theogony [Paperback]

Hesiod (Author), Stanley Lombardo (Author), Robert Lamberton (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0872201791 | ISBN-13: 978-0872201798 | Publication Date: October 1, 1993

'This is by far the best rendering of Hesiod's poems in print. The translation is fully accurate but so readable one doesn't want to stop; it exactly captures Hesiod's rustic wisdom, his humour and his cautious pessimism...Clear brief notes and a glossary make this a must for introductory courses: students will love it' - Richard Janko, University College, London.

Editorial Reviews

Review

There are at present four other principal translations of these poems available . . . and this one compares well with them. It is livlier, more viaried in tone and style, and more colloquial. . . . Robert Lamberton's introduction is an excellent, concise exposition of current scholarly debate: his notes are informative and helpful. . . . Those who want a translation that captures something of the spirit of an ancient Greek poetic voice and its cultural milieu and transmits it in an appealing, lively, and accessable style will now turn to Lombardo. --M. A. Katz, Wesleyan University in CHOICE

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Greek

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Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Hackett Pub Co (October 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0872201791
• ISBN-13: 978-0872201798
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,721 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hesiod for pleasure? You bet!, June 15, 2001

By 

Timothy Dougal (Joliet, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Works and Days and Theogony (Paperback)

At first I found the voice Lombardo uses for "Works and Days" a little off-putting. I mean, you don't expect an ancient Greek poet to come off like one of Huck Finn's more literate relatives. But as I continued reading, and, indeed, I had a hard time stopping, I was convinced this really was Hesiod's voice, at least for this group of poems and proverbs. He's a rustic, cranky know-it-all who's also quite entertaining. "Theogony" is more formal and stately, but as with Lomboardo's recent "Iliad" and "Odyssey", compulsively readable. In this volume, Hesiod is more pleasurable to read than I had imagined possible. Bravo!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Words of Wisdom from an Everyday Rustic, July 16, 2004

By 

Leah Jesse "Giggling Archaeologist" (Victoria, B.C., Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Works and Days and Theogony (Paperback)

Hesiod's Theogony was the best known poem in antiquity and the single greatest summary of the Greek gods and the theological tradition of Archaic Greece (800-480 B.C.) Its origins are based in oral tradition and the poem itself is structured in run-composition with framed episodes that use repetitious formulas. Due to its structure, the narrative can shift suddenly from one topic to another, thus leading to inconsistencies in the gods' parentage. The Theogony is a succession myth that explains how generations of patriarchal gods overthrow each other until one god consolidates power. Therefore, the story has a linear progression, but it also has a cyclical element since each generation represents a reincarnation of previous generations that all try to keep their children secluded from power. Four main themes in the Theogony include: the concern for the displacement of elders, the frustration of gender politics, the folktale element of moral messages, and the concern of sexual excess demonstrated by the gods.

Hesiod also wrote Works and Days which was a poem to his brother who had squandered his share of their father's inheritance. Throughout the poem, Hesiod outlines practical guidelines for basic living. He also gives examples of Greek cosmogony such as the Ages of Man that is not found elsewhere in Greek literary sources. Scholars have described Hesiod's worldview as apocalyptic and pessimistic, but Hesiod's stern dealings with his brother occasionally give way to a more lighthearted tone which Lombardo emphasizes in modern prose.

Both translations are enlightening reads and Lombardo gives extensive, useful notes, and Robert Lamberton provides an excellent introduction that outlines Hesiod's life and his poems.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best translation available, October 3, 2008

By 

Ryan Kouroukis "In 1882 Richard Wagner said: ... - See all my reviews

This review is from: Works and Days and Theogony (Paperback)

I must have compared a number of different Hesiod translation before finding Stanley Lombardo's!

At once I felt at peace with my searching struggle and was extremely happy with his version!

He has presented the "Theogony" and "Works & Days" in a way that makes for easy and pleasurable reading, with a realistic power and a believability in Hesiod himself.

Not only that but he has taken the time to seperated each text into paragraphs and sections, and has given each section a title for quick reference and artistic aesthetic!

I love this beautiful edition!