Greek spirit

Author: Edith Hamilton (USA)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Ancient Greece, as the cradle of Western civilization, experienced a brief period of brilliance before ultimately declining into ruin. However, the invaluable spiritual legacy it left behind remains timeless and enduring. The level of civilization and flourishing it achieved is even unattainable for modern-day America. This book explores various aspects of the Greek spirit and is an excellent read for understanding the origins of Western civilization. In 1996, I wanted to read something about Greece and books on Greece, so I consulted my teacher and friend, Mr. Chen Jiaying. From a corner of his bookshelf, he took out an old, yellowed, and slightly musty little book, recommending it to me as one of his favorite works, saying he would reread it in a few years. When I flipped through it, the pages were somewhat brittle, and the spine even split open. I smiled and said, "It mustn't have been printed by the ancient Greeks." Although the book was old, the author's perspectives were still very relevant. After reading a few chapters, I found myself thoroughly enjoying it. The author's unique insights and elegant language stirred my emotions. After finishing it, I felt I didn’t fully grasp its depth, so I thought about translating it. This would not only deepen my understanding but also serve as a form of practice, allowing me to appreciate the author's Greek-style elegant prose. At the time, my intention was simply to translate it for my own enjoyment, never imagining it would be published. As a result, the translation was not very meticulous, and I skipped over difficult parts. It wasn’t until October 1997 that I finished translating, and I left it there, no longer paying attention. Later, while chatting with my friend Yu Qi, I mentioned this book, and she asked if I wanted to publish it. After some thought, I realized that although my translation was rough, readers who hadn’t read the original could still sense the author’s profound insights and unconventional thinking through my clumsy text. Perhaps they might even catch a glimpse of the author’s Greek-style thoughtfulness, as well as the Greek-inspired elegance, clarity, conciseness, and passion in his writing. So, I revisited the translation, filled in the untranslated parts, and found translations of cited passages by renowned authors. For passages I couldn’t find translations for, I didn’t hesitate to translate them myself. Most of the names and places in the book follow common translations, but a few were untraceable, so I had to transliterate them. I will correct them if I find more accurate translations in the future.