brenticus reviewed If Not, Winter by Anne Carson
None
4 stars
I have another book that uses Carson's translation of Sappho, but it doesn't have the Greek on the facing page.
I can't read Greek, but it makes a huge difference. The fragmentary nature can be hard to read in English because much of it is scattered letters, not at all translatable. But some of the sounds of the Greek come through, and the shape of it, and it adds something to the work to show that even what we can translate isn't all that we have of Sappho, and all that we have is a small portion of her works.
For the more complete poems, it is, of course, a beautiful translation. Carson beautifully steps out of the way to let Sappho shine through.
I have another book that uses Carson's translation of Sappho, but it doesn't have the Greek on the facing page.
I can't read Greek, but it makes a huge difference. The fragmentary nature can be hard to read in English because much of it is scattered letters, not at all translatable. But some of the sounds of the Greek come through, and the shape of it, and it adds something to the work to show that even what we can translate isn't all that we have of Sappho, and all that we have is a small portion of her works.
For the more complete poems, it is, of course, a beautiful translation. Carson beautifully steps out of the way to let Sappho shine through.
I can't read Greek, but it makes a huge difference. The fragmentary nature can be hard to read in English because much of it is scattered letters, not at all translatable. But some of the sounds of the Greek come through, and the shape of it, and it adds something to the work to show that even what we can translate isn't all that we have of Sappho, and all that we have is a small portion of her works.
For the more complete poems, it is, of course, a beautiful translation. Carson beautifully steps out of the way to let Sappho shine through.
