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| '''Kimon Friar''' (]–], ]) was a Greek-American poet and translator of Greek poetry. | '''Kimon Friar''' (]–], ]) was a Greek-American poet and translator of Greek poetry. | ||
| ==Youth and education== | |||
| Friar was born in 1911 in Imrali, ], to an ] father and a ] mother. He was brought to the United States in ] and naturalized soon after in ]. As a child, Friar had problems with the English language, and so he focused all his energy on art. He discovered ] at a young age, and, as a teenager, became interested in ]. After reading ''Ode to a Grecian Urn'' by ], Friar became fascinated with the energy of the English language and determined to master it. | Friar was born in 1911 in Imrali, ], to an ] father and a ] mother. He was brought to the United States in ] and naturalized soon after in ]. As a child, Friar had problems with the English language, and so he focused all his energy on art. He discovered ] at a young age, and, as a teenager, became interested in ]. After reading ''Ode to a Grecian Urn'' by ], Friar became fascinated with the energy of the English language and determined to master it. | ||
| Friar was educated at a number of institutions, including the ], the ] School of Drama, the ], and ] where he received his bachelor's degree with honors in ]. He went on to ] for his master's degree in ], and he won the ] for ''Yeats: A Vision''. | Friar was educated at a number of institutions, including the ], the ] School of Drama, the ], and ] where he received his bachelor's degree with honors in ]. He went on to ] for his master's degree in ], and he won the ] for ''Yeats: A Vision''. | ||
| ==Poetry and teaching== | |||
| Although he was dedicated to writing and translating poetry, Friar began teaching to support himself soon after leaving the University of Michigan. He taught English at ] from ]-], at ] from ]-], at ] from ]-], and at ] from ]-]. He also served as a visiting lecturer at ], ], ], and ]. | Although he was dedicated to writing and translating poetry, Friar began teaching to support himself soon after leaving the University of Michigan. He taught English at ] from ]-], at ] from ]-], at ] from ]-], and at ] from ]-]. He also served as a visiting lecturer at ], ], ], and ]. | ||
| During these years, Friar organized poetry readings for the pleasure of the public. He was the director of the Poetry Center in the YW/YMHA in ] from ]-] where he encouraged famous poets and amateurs to read their poetry at receptions. From 1951-1952, Friar ran the Theatre Circle at the Circle in the Square Theatre, also in New York City. The plays produced there were primarily from the works of ], ], ], and ]. | During these years, Friar organized poetry readings for the pleasure of the public. He was the director of the Poetry Center in the YW/YMHA in ] from ]-] where he encouraged famous poets and amateurs to read their poetry at receptions. From 1951-1952, Friar ran the Theatre Circle at the Circle in the Square Theatre, also in New York City. The plays produced there were primarily from the works of ], ], ], and ]. | ||
| ==Editor and translator== | |||
| Friar acted as the ], from ]-], of ''The Charioteer'', and from 1963-1965, of ''Greek Heritage'', two magazines dealing with Greek culture. Friar had been translating poetry from Greek into English, learning both languages fluently and gaining a perspective on modern Greek poetry. He has written, translated, and edited innumerable works, including ''Modern Poetry: American and British'' (with John Malcolm Brinnin) in 1951, the 1960 translation of ''Saviors of God'' and the 1963 translation of ''Sodom and Gomorrah'' by ], and the 1973 anthology ''Modern Greek Poetry: from ] to ]''. However, Friar is best known for his translation of Kazantzakis' epic poem '']''. Friar completed this work in 1958 after several years of close collaboration with the author. Some critics declared that Friar lost his way in the double adjectives and complex language of the original (Kazantzakis used ancient vocabulary that is generally unknown to metropolitan scholars), and others agreed that Friar was at his best when he chose the prosaic word over the contrived or archaic. A Time magazine reviewer regarded The Odyssey as "a masterpiece. Kimon Friar received from Kazantzakis the ultimate praise: that his translation was as good as the original." | Friar acted as the ], from ]-], of ''The Charioteer'', and from 1963-1965, of ''Greek Heritage'', two magazines dealing with Greek culture. Friar had been translating poetry from Greek into English, learning both languages fluently and gaining a perspective on modern Greek poetry. He has written, translated, and edited innumerable works, including ''Modern Poetry: American and British'' (with John Malcolm Brinnin) in 1951, the 1960 translation of ''Saviors of God'' and the 1963 translation of ''Sodom and Gomorrah'' by ], and the 1973 anthology ''Modern Greek Poetry: from ] to ]''. However, Friar is best known for his translation of Kazantzakis' epic poem '']''. Friar completed this work in 1958 after several years of close collaboration with the author. Some critics declared that Friar lost his way in the double adjectives and complex language of the original (Kazantzakis used ancient vocabulary that is generally unknown to metropolitan scholars), and others agreed that Friar was at his best when he chose the prosaic word over the contrived or archaic. A Time magazine reviewer regarded The Odyssey as "a masterpiece. Kimon Friar received from Kazantzakis the ultimate praise: that his translation was as good as the original." | ||
| ==Death and honors== | |||
| In ], Friar received the Greek World Award. Then, in ], he won both a ] grant and a ] grant. He maintained: "I like to say that the poet in a translation should be heard, but the translator should be overheard." | In ], Friar received the Greek World Award. Then, in ], he won both a ] grant and a ] grant. He maintained: "I like to say that the poet in a translation should be heard, but the translator should be overheard." | ||
Revision as of 17:09, 18 August 2007
Kimon Friar (1911–May 25, 1993) was a Greek-American poet and translator of Greek poetry.
Youth and education
Friar was born in 1911 in Imrali, Turkey, to an American father and a Greek mother. He was brought to the United States in 1915 and naturalized soon after in 1920. As a child, Friar had problems with the English language, and so he focused all his energy on art. He discovered poetry at a young age, and, as a teenager, became interested in drama. After reading Ode to a Grecian Urn by John Keats, Friar became fascinated with the energy of the English language and determined to master it.
Friar was educated at a number of institutions, including the Chicago Art Institute, the Yale School of Drama, the University of Iowa, and University of Wisconsin where he received his bachelor's degree with honors in 1935. He went on to University of Michigan for his master's degree in 1940, and he won the Avery Hopwood Major Award for Yeats: A Vision.
Poetry and teaching
Although he was dedicated to writing and translating poetry, Friar began teaching to support himself soon after leaving the University of Michigan. He taught English at Adelphi from 1940-1945, at Amherst College from 1945-1946, at New York University from 1952-1953, and at University of Minnesota Duluth from 1953-1954. He also served as a visiting lecturer at UC Berkeley, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio State.
During these years, Friar organized poetry readings for the pleasure of the public. He was the director of the Poetry Center in the YW/YMHA in New York City from 1943-1946 where he encouraged famous poets and amateurs to read their poetry at receptions. From 1951-1952, Friar ran the Theatre Circle at the Circle in the Square Theatre, also in New York City. The plays produced there were primarily from the works of Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams, Lillian Hellman, and Archibald MacLeish.
Editor and translator
Friar acted as the editor, from 1960-1962, of The Charioteer, and from 1963-1965, of Greek Heritage, two magazines dealing with Greek culture. Friar had been translating poetry from Greek into English, learning both languages fluently and gaining a perspective on modern Greek poetry. He has written, translated, and edited innumerable works, including Modern Poetry: American and British (with John Malcolm Brinnin) in 1951, the 1960 translation of Saviors of God and the 1963 translation of Sodom and Gomorrah by Nikos Kazantzakis, and the 1973 anthology Modern Greek Poetry: from Cavafis to Elytis. However, Friar is best known for his translation of Kazantzakis' epic poem The Odyssey: A Modern Sequel. Friar completed this work in 1958 after several years of close collaboration with the author. Some critics declared that Friar lost his way in the double adjectives and complex language of the original (Kazantzakis used ancient vocabulary that is generally unknown to metropolitan scholars), and others agreed that Friar was at his best when he chose the prosaic word over the contrived or archaic. A Time magazine reviewer regarded The Odyssey as "a masterpiece. Kimon Friar received from Kazantzakis the ultimate praise: that his translation was as good as the original."
Death and honors
In 1978, Friar received the Greek World Award. Then, in 1986, he won both a Ford Foundation grant and a National Foundation of the Arts and Humanities grant. He maintained: "I like to say that the poet in a translation should be heard, but the translator should be overheard."
He spent his last years in Greece. Kimon Friar died on May 25, 1993.
Bibliography
- Yeats: A Vision (1940)
- Modern Poetry: American and British (with John Malcolm Brinnin) (1951)
- Saviors of God (1960)
- Sodom and Gomorrah by Nikos Kazantzakis (translation by Kimon Friar) (1963)
- Modern Greek Poetry: from Cavafis to Elytis (1973)