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Writing Career-
Robert absolutely LOVED to write his entire life. He was a writer and translator of Ancient Greek and even taught English Literature as a teacher for many years. Here is information on his early writing career, his wide variety of translations, and their use in countless highschooler's education today.
Early Writing Career-
Since Robert was a child, he had always wanted to become a Physician. He had an intense interest in English Literature, but believed the medical field was his future. However, when Robert was a Junior in college, he studied Ancient Greek. After reading a translation by Richard Lattimore of the Odyssey, he was led to read Homer in Greek and absolutely loved it. The “considerations of personalities," and the stories fascinated him, and he slowly but surely fell in love with Ancient Greek Literature. "He enjoyed discovering the beauty of the language” said Marilyn Fagles, Robert's wife.
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Robert's Translations-
Robert translated dozens of Ancient Greek literary works, and even wrote a few of his own books. Poetry was his main focus, as most Greek literature was in free verse. The first book that Robert ever translated was ‘Bacchylides, a Greek poet.’ He then went on to translate numerous Greek dramas such as Aeschylus's The Oresteia, and took on the great challenge of translating Homer's Iliad (1990) and Odyssey (1996) and the Aeneid. These three books were all very famous Greek literary works. Robert’s translation of ‘The Iliad’ was even used in the theatrical performance, ‘An Iliad.' Today, Robert's translations have sold more than 4 million copies worldwide, and they are still very popular.
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Use in Highschooler's Education-
Ancient Greek literature is a common topic of learning in many high school and even middle school curriculums. The style of writing it uses is beneficial for students to learn, and one translation in particular is most commonly used in the classroom; The Odyssey. Robert's translation of the Odyssey is put to use in countless middle/high schools across the country, and his work will continue to help educate future generations on Greek Literature.
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