Burton Raffel

Burton Raffel (1928-2015) was an American translator, poet, and scholar best known for his accessible English translations of classical and medieval literature. His most influential work was his 1963 translation of "Beowulf," which became a standard text in American classrooms and universities. Throughout his career, Raffel translated over 80 works from multiple languages including Old English, Medieval French, Spanish, German, and Indonesian. His notable translations included Cervantes' "Don Quixote," Rabelais' "Gargantua and Pantagruel," and various Norse sagas. In addition to translation work, Raffel taught at several universities including the University of Denver, York University, and Louisiana State University. He authored books on translation theory and wrote original poetry, publishing collections such as "The Art of Translating Poetry" and "Political Poems." Beyond his academic contributions, Raffel worked to make classical literature more approachable for modern readers while maintaining the essential meaning and spirit of the original texts. His translation philosophy emphasized readability and cultural accessibility over strict literal interpretation.

Readers value Raffel's translations for their accessibility and readability, particularly his versions of Beowulf and Don Quixote. Many note that his modern English renderings help newcomers understand classic texts without excessive footnotes. Positive comments focus on his clear language choices and ability to maintain the original's pacing. Several readers on Goodreads mention using his translations alongside the original texts in language courses. Critics argue his translations can be too loose and modernized, sometimes sacrificing accuracy for flow. Some readers find his word choices overly simple. One Amazon reviewer wrote that his Beowulf translation "loses the alliterative verse structure that makes the original so powerful." Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: - Beowulf translation: 3.8/5 (82,000+ ratings) - Don Quixote translation: 3.9/5 (7,000+ ratings) Amazon: - Beowulf translation: 4.5/5 (900+ reviews) - Canterbury Tales translation: 4.4/5 (400+ reviews) Most negative reviews center on formatting issues in digital editions rather than the translation quality itself.

Poems From The Old English (1960) A collection of Anglo-Saxon poetry translated into modern English, including works from the Exeter Book.

The Development of Modern Indonesian Poetry (1967) An analysis of Indonesian poetic evolution from traditional to modern forms, with translated examples.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (1970) A verse translation of the 14th-century Middle English chivalric romance.

Beowulf (1963) A complete translation of the Old English epic poem about the hero Beowulf's battles with monsters.

The Complete Poetry and Prose of Chairil Anwar (1970) Translations of works by the influential Indonesian modernist poet Chairil Anwar.

How to Read a Poem (1984) A guide to understanding poetic techniques and forms through analysis of specific examples.

The Art of Translating Poetry (1988) A technical examination of poetry translation methods and challenges.

Pain and Grace: A Study of Two Mystical Writers (1974) An analysis of the works of Simone Weil and Jacopone da Todi.

The Forked Tongue (1971) A study of contemporary American poetry focusing on style and meaning.

From Stress to Stress: An Autobiography of English Prosody (1991) An examination of the development of English poetic meter through history.