English Translations from the Greek: A Bibliographical Survey

by Finley Melville Kendall Foster

"English Translations From The Greek: A Bibliographical Survey" by Finley Melville Kendall Foster is a scholarly work focused on the history of English translations of Greek literature, written in the early 20th century. This publication serves as a comprehensive bibliographical survey, detailing approximately 2164 translations from Greek works into English and American literature from 1484 to 1916. It seeks to map the growth and development of Greek literature in English, emphasizing the cultural and literary exchanges between the two languages over the centuries. The opening of this work presents the origins of the study, initially stemming from a preliminary investigation of 19th-century attitudes towards Greek classics. Foster outlines the methodology for the survey, noting the significance of events such as the establishment of Caxton's printing press. He highlights key factors influencing the growth of Greek translations, including public interest in Greek culture, the implications of the Greek Revolution, and the roles of classical libraries. The author acknowledges limitations in scope and categorization but aims to provide a foundational resource for understanding the translations’ influence on English literature. This reveals an intricate relationship between reading public interests and the literary output of Greek texts throughout the ages.