D. C. H. Rieu
Encyclopedia
Dominic Christopher Henry Rieu (born 26 October 1916 in Bombay, died 29 April 2008) was a classical scholar and son of the famous E. V. Rieu
. After attending Highgate School
, he studied English and Classics at Queen's College, Oxford. As part of the West Yorkshire Regiment in 1941, he was injured at Cheren and subsequently awarded the Military Cross
. Rieu served as headmaster of Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys
in Canterbury
from 1955 until 1977.
Rieu did a translation of the Acts of the Apostles in the Penguin Classics series and, with Dr Peter Jones, revised his father's translations of The Odyssey and the Iliad
. While acknowledging his father's "towering skill", Rieu made amendments to some undue embroidery of phrase and Greek manners, disdain for anonymous gods, formulaic abuse and modernistic prose. "Some of his racier colloquialisms, however, I have kept, provided they come in dialogue; the narrative passages call for a degree of formality. Poseidon
, in his fury with Odysseus
, says (literal translation): 'I mean to give him his full trouble yet.' EVR's 'bellyful of trouble' is much livelier -- and typical of the irascible Poseidon."
When he and Dr Peter Jones
took up the task of revising E.V. Rieu's translation of the Odyssey, they determined to retain (and in places even enhance) its charm. "Our alterations were in fact puny," wrote Rieu Junior in the preface. Although keen to maintain Homer's formulaic construction, he revised the archaic preliminaries used prior to speeches. "The patient good Odysseus answering him said: 'Friends [...]'" becomes "'Friends,' replied the patient good Odysseus [...]".
Rieu involved himself in retirement with the Samaritans and Cruse Bereavement Counselling. He wrote myriad books and articles (starting in 1963 with A Life Within A Life) about his life in Subud
.
E. V. Rieu
Emile Victor Rieu CBE was a classicist, publisher and poet, best known for his lucid translations of Homer, as editor of Penguin Classics, and for a modern translation of the four Gospels which evolved from his role as editor of a projected Penguin translation of the Bible...
. After attending Highgate School
Highgate School
-Notable members of staff and governing body:* John Ireton, brother of Henry Ireton, Cromwellian General* 1st Earl of Mansfield, Lord Chief Justice, owner of Kenwood, noted for judgment finding contracts for slavery unenforceable in English law* T. S...
, he studied English and Classics at Queen's College, Oxford. As part of the West Yorkshire Regiment in 1941, he was injured at Cheren and subsequently awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
. Rieu served as headmaster of Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys
Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys
Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys is a selective boys school of over 1000 pupils and staff, located in the outskirts of Canterbury, Kent. It holds both Foundation and Grammar school status and has 'specialist college' status in science....
in Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
from 1955 until 1977.
Rieu did a translation of the Acts of the Apostles in the Penguin Classics series and, with Dr Peter Jones, revised his father's translations of The Odyssey and the Iliad
Iliad
The Iliad is an epic poem in dactylic hexameters, traditionally attributed to Homer. Set during the Trojan War, the ten-year siege of the city of Troy by a coalition of Greek states, it tells of the battles and events during the weeks of a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles...
. While acknowledging his father's "towering skill", Rieu made amendments to some undue embroidery of phrase and Greek manners, disdain for anonymous gods, formulaic abuse and modernistic prose. "Some of his racier colloquialisms, however, I have kept, provided they come in dialogue; the narrative passages call for a degree of formality. Poseidon
Poseidon
Poseidon was the god of the sea, and, as "Earth-Shaker," of the earthquakes in Greek mythology. The name of the sea-god Nethuns in Etruscan was adopted in Latin for Neptune in Roman mythology: both were sea gods analogous to Poseidon...
, in his fury with Odysseus
Odysseus
Odysseus or Ulysses was a legendary Greek king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer's epic poem the Odyssey. Odysseus also plays a key role in Homer's Iliad and other works in the Epic Cycle....
, says (literal translation): 'I mean to give him his full trouble yet.' EVR's 'bellyful of trouble' is much livelier -- and typical of the irascible Poseidon."
When he and Dr Peter Jones
Peter Jones (classicist)
Peter V. Jones is a Cambridge graduate with a doctorate on Homer. He is a former senior lecturer in Classics at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, and co-founded with Jeannie Cohen the Friends of Classics charity...
took up the task of revising E.V. Rieu's translation of the Odyssey, they determined to retain (and in places even enhance) its charm. "Our alterations were in fact puny," wrote Rieu Junior in the preface. Although keen to maintain Homer's formulaic construction, he revised the archaic preliminaries used prior to speeches. "The patient good Odysseus answering him said: 'Friends [...]'" becomes "'Friends,' replied the patient good Odysseus [...]".
Rieu involved himself in retirement with the Samaritans and Cruse Bereavement Counselling. He wrote myriad books and articles (starting in 1963 with A Life Within A Life) about his life in Subud
Subud
Subud is an international spiritual movement that began in Indonesia in the 1920s as a movement founded by Muhammad Subuh Sumohadiwidjojo. The basis of Subud is a spiritual exercise commonly referred to as the latihan kejiwaan, which was said by Muhammad Subuh to represent guidance from...
.