The Printed Homer

The Iliad and the Odyssey are the foundation of Greek culture (“Our earliest infancy was entrusted to the care of Homer,” said Heraclitus 2500 years ago) and are widely read today.
This is a publishing and translation history of the written forms of the Iliad and the Odyssey. It first considers who Homer might have been and then explores the when and how of the creation of the written forms of the works. The Homeric text in classical times, in medieval Europe and the Byzantine Empire, and in Renaissance humanism are next taken up. The efforts of the many who have translated the works are analyzed critically and then—a major portion of the book—all the known texts, editions and translations of the Iliad and the Odyssey from 1470 to 2000 are listed. Finally, the author considers the future of the Homeric texts. Seven valuable appendices (e.g., Modernizing of Latin City Names; First Printings in Vernacular Languages), a bibliography, and an index complete the work.

The late Philip H. Young was director of the Krannert Memorial Library at the University of Indianapolis. He lived in Greenwood, Indiana.

Philip H. Young
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 487
Bibliographic Info: photos, tables, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2009 [2003]
pISBN: 978-0-7864-3897-6
Imprint: McFarland

Preface      1
Introduction      3

Part I: Homer and the Homeric Text

1. Who Was Homer?      9
2. The Creation of the Homeric Text      14
3. The Homeric Text in Classical Antiquity      47
4. The Homeric Text in Medieval Europe and the Byzantine Empire      67
5. Homer, Renaissance Humanism, and the Printing Press      77
6. The Homeric Text in the Modern World: Translations and Editions
On Translating Homer      84
1470 to 1500      92
1501 to 1600      97
1601 to 1700      101
1701 to 1800      108
1801 to 1850      125
1851 to 1900      128
1901 to 1950      136
1951 to 2000      149
7. Homer, Present and Future      159

Part II: Printed Editions of the Homeric Texts, 1470 to 2000 C.E.

How to Read the Entries      173
1470 to 1500      176
1501 to 1600      177
1601 to 1700      189
1701 to 1800      197
1801 to 1850      214
1851 to 1900      239
1901 to 1950      287
1951 to 2000      327

Part III: Appendices

Appendix A: Comments on the Printings Lists of Part II      389
Appendix B: Sources Used for Part II      394
Appendix C: Latin City Names and Their Modern Equivalents      396
Appendix D: Printings Listed by Translator or Author      398
Appendix E: Printings Listed by Printer or Publisher      419
Appendix F: Printings Listed by Place Printed      444
Appendix G: First Printings in Vernacular Languages      465

Notes      467
Bibliography of Sources Cited      475
Index      479

• “Young is conversant with the most recent theories in Homeric scholarship, which he here presents with balance and clarity…comprehensive biblography…an essential resource…highly recommended”—Library Journal
• “a remarkable book”—International Journal of the Classical Tradition
• “Young’s language is clear and interesting…outstanding work…recommended”—Choice
• “useful…generously illustrated”—Journal of Hellenic Studies
• “invaluable”—Translation and Literature