Aristotle's Poetics: A Translation and Commentary for Students of Literature

by Leon Golden, O. B. Hardison Jr.

"The reprint edition will be most welcome to classicists, comparatists, and students of literary theory. No existing translation of the Poetics even approaches the quality and accuracy of Leon Golden’s, and O.B. Hardison’s accompanying commentary makes the book eminently useful as a text for literary criticism and literature-in-translation courses."--Roy Arthur Swanson, Professor of Classics and Comparative Literature, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee "The Golden-Hardison translation and commentary offer some of the clearest and most persuasive explanations of Aristotle’s key terms. I am happy to learn that this text will again be available."--Donald Keesey, Professor of English, San Jose State University This volume combines Leon Golden’s highly regarded translation of Aristotle’s Poetics and O. B. Hardison’s detailed commentary provide a comprehensive account of the principles of the Poetics and of the critical debates they have engendered. Clearly written, highly readable, the volume was designed to meet the needs of students of literature and criticism who are not proficient in Greek, but it has become a standard reference for scholars as well as students.

308 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1982

Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read in conjunction with Aristotle On the Art of Fiction. translated by L. J. Potts. This provided excellent and expansive commentary, but for the actual translation, I preferred the Potts.

My review of Poetics generally is under that Potts translation, here.

[Alex Obrigewitsch · Rating 3 out of 5]

While still containing some lapses in translation (mimesis is not 'imitation') and an at times overly rationalizing or intellectualizing interpretation, this is still one of the better copies of the Poetics available to the English reader. The commentary is, on the whole, informative and helpful (if not a bit too summative at instants). Far better off with this than with Butcher's butchery of the already damaged text.

[Space Orlando · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Analysis here is a great heads up to Aristotle's Poetics. This was a fascinating read that has me captivated at the moment, thinking about what makes great literature starting from the time of the Greeks. Amazing stuff.