THE GREEK READER

by A.L. Compiled & edited Whall ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 22, 1942

Nearly thirty years ago Ida Thallon published Readings in Greek History, which was a compilation in chronological order, of extracts from Greek prose and poetry dealing with Greek history, selection being made on the basis of the best available English translations. That book filled a very vital need for many years of a one volume source book. Now A. L. Whall has approached Greek literature as a whole, and given modern readers a fascinating volume of prose and poetry, oratory, philosophy, drama and history, beginning with Homer and going on through Alexandrian poetry. His function as editor is a dual one; first, in the matter of selection of the translations best keyed to the modern spirit, second in the matter of an illuminating, but almost too brief, preface, and the contribution of cryptic, telling titles for the extracts, in themselves serving as editorial notes. The translators in themselves present a galaxy of famous names in English literature, including as he does writers as well-known as Cowper, Chapman, Pope, Shelley, Morris, Coleridge, Benson, Symonds, Gilbert Murray, Lang, Trevelyan, Jowett, and many others whose names mean more to the student, perhaps, and classicist, than to the average man-in-the-street. An important book for home libraries as well as school and public libraries.

Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1942

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Doubleday, Doran

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1942

Categories: NONFICTION