[ilds] Cavafy - Whose Translation?

[James Gifford]

Hello Dan,

Welcome to the listserv!

 > LD cites the Mavrogordato translations: is there
 > a subsequent translator preferred by those in the
 > group? And are there any particular publications
 > you would recommend?

Yes, Durrell does mention the Mavrogordato translations, and there's a 
variant of Durrell's own translation in the first edition of _Justine_ 
in the middle of the novel (where we find the footnote leading us to the 
back of the book in the subsequent editions -- the poem in the middle of 
the book does not match the poem at the end).  I think most of us prefer 
Keeley and Sherrard's translations, and those seem to be the most 
frequently anthologized, but that preference may be associative through 
the Durrell Society.  The most thumbed copy on my bookcase is Rae 
Dalven's, but that's just coincidence since I got it real cheap...  I 
only acquired the collected poems in Greek this summer, and my skills 
with that language are poor.

Jane Lagoudis Pinchin has discussed Durrell, Cavafy and Forster in her 
book _Alexandria Still_.  There are also several good articles on 
Durrell & Cavafy, among which I would recommend Anthony Hirst's in _Deus 
Loci_ or Anna Lillios' edited book _Lawrence Durrell and the Greek World_.

Anyone else?

Best,
James

Daniel wrote:
> Indulge a newcomer for asking what may have already been answered, but I 
> want to learn something of Cavafy’s poetry and life and was unable to 
> find a Search feature of the ILDS archives.
> 

> 
> Dan Dresner, a serious naif and perhaps your newest member
> 
> 
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