Paperback
Unlocking the Bible’s literary power through masterful English translation.

The Art of Bible Translation

$36.00

  • Paperback

    152 pages

  • Release Date

    15 November 2020

Check Delivery Options

Summary

From the recipient of the National Jewish Book Award for Lifetime Achievement, this is an account of the art of translating the Hebrew Bible into English.

In this brief book, award-winning biblical translator Robert Alter offers a personal and passionate account of what he learned about the art of Bible translation during the two decades he spent completing his own English version of the Hebrew Bible. Showing why the Bible and its meaning can be brought to life in English only by re-c…

Book Details

ISBN-13:9780691209142
ISBN-10:0691209146
Author:Robert Alter
Publisher:Princeton University Press
Imprint:Princeton University Press
Format:Paperback
Number of Pages:152
Release Date:15 November 2020
Weight:202g
Dimensions:140mm x 216mm
A-Format
B-Format
The Art of Bible Translation by Robert Alter - ISBN: 9780691209142
140 × 216 mm
C-Format
A4
mm / in
What They're Saying

Critics Review

“In The Art of Bible Translation, Alter provides an intriguing insight into the complexities he faced in producing, single-handed, his translation of the Hebrew Bible. It makes fascinating reading.”—Neville Teller, Jerusalem Post
“The Art of Bible Translation is an extraordinary intellectual adventure. Like Robert Alter’s translation of the Hebrew Bible itself, this book is a triumph.”–Michael Wood, author of On Empson
“An essential companion volume to [Alter’s] own translations.”—Jonathan Kirsch, Jewish Journal
“Alter’s book is a short masterclass in how to appreciate biblical language. We may read through the veil of translation but it helps us glimpse the colour of the original.”—Simon Rocker, Jewish Chronicle
“This deeply personal account of the pleasures and challenges of translating the Hebrew Bible into modern English is lively, engaging, and accessible. It will be especially illuminating to readers who have taken for granted that their beloved translations of the Bible are pure and direct vehicles for the unchanging word of God.”–David Damrosch, author of What Is World Literature?
“In this slim work, Mr. Alter sets out the principles that govern his translation while also delivering his pointed commentary on almost all other modern versions.”—Eric Ormsby, Wall Street Journal
“Hugely entertaining and irreverent.”—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker

About The Author

Robert Alter

Robert Alter is professor of the Graduate School and emeritus professor of Hebrew and comparative literature at the University of California, Berkeley. His many books include The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary, for which he received the National Jewish Book Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Returns

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.