Free eBooks Ancient Egyptian Literature: An Anthology Available To Downloads
Poetry, stories, hymns, prayers, and wisdom texts found exquisite written expression in ancient Egypt while their literary counterparts were still being recited around hearth fires in ancient Greece and Israel. Yet, because of its very antiquity and the centuries during which the language was forgotten, ancient Egyptian literature is a newly discovered country for modern readers.This anthology offers an extensive sampling of all the major genres of ancient Egyptian literature. It includes all the texts from John Foster's previous book Echoes of Egyptian Voices, along with selections from his Love Songs of the New Kingdom and Hymns, Prayers, and Songs: An Anthology of Ancient Egyptian Lyric Poetry, as well as previously unpublished translations of four longer and two short poems. Foster's translations capture the poetical beauty of the Egyptian language and the spirit that impelled each piece's composition, making these ancient masterworks sing for modern readers. An introduction to ancient Egyptian literature and its translation, as well as brief information about the authorship and date of each selection, completes the volume.
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: University of Texas Press; Lst Ed edition (June 2001)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0292725272
ISBN-13: 978-0292725270
Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #254,565 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #16 in Books > Literature & Fiction > History & Criticism > Regional & Cultural > Middle Eastern #122 in Books > Literature & Fiction > World Literature > African #158 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Ancient & Medieval Literature > Ancient & Classical
I have enjoyed reading this anthology of ancient Egyptian literature translated by John Foster. The study of ancient Egyptian literature has come a long way since its early days, with de Rouge's publication for the tale "Two Brothers" in 1852, based an ancient Egyptian papyri, which was acquired by Elizabeth d'Orbiney. In his well-written introduction, the author outlines his personal introduction as a graduate student at the University of Michigan to ancient Egyptian literature; and he further indicates that he finished his work in American literature and modern poetry, and that by profession he taught English. He outlines the historical background for the study of ancient Egyptian literature. A major feature of this anthology is that it tends to be more of a "literary" vis a vis a more "literal" translation, while keeping the original ancient Egyptian writers' "presumed" intent in mind. I tend to think that the author seems to have been reasonably successful in producing a literary translation to a great extent. The book also includes the sources of the texts and a bibliography, which I tend to think, would be useful for the readers.I noted with interest the translation as compared with other recent publications of ancient Egyptian literature such as the three volumes on "Ancient Egyptian Literature" by M. Lichtheim, which tends to be more of a literal vis a vis literary translation. I have two observations to point out. The first is about maxim 1 of Ptahhotep, which advises against arrogance for those who attain knowledge. Ptahhotep admonishes the reader in the author's literary translation "more hidden than gems is the chiseled expression, yet found among slave girls grinding the grain".
Egyptian Mythology: Discover the Ancient Secrets of Egyptian Mythology (Egypt, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Civilizations, Gods, Pharaohs, Ra, Isis, Set) (Ancient Civilizations and Mythology) Egyptian Gods: The Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt (Egyptian Gods, Ancient Egypt) Ancient Egyptian Literature: An Anthology EGYPTIAN LITERATURE Comprising Egyptian Tales Hymns, Litanies Invocations The Book of The dead & Cuneiform Writings The Heath Anthology of American Literature: Volume A (Heath Anthology of American Literature Series) The Broadview Anthology of British Literature Volume 4: The Age of Romanticism - Second Edition (Broadview Anthology of British Literature - Second Edition) The Broadview Anthology of British Literature: Concise Volume B - Second Edition (Broadview Anthology of British Literature - Second Edition) The Norton Anthology of English Literature (Ninth Edition) (Vol. B) (Norton Anthology of English Literature (Paperback)) Ancient Egyptian Literature: Volume I: The Old and Middle Kingdoms Ancient Egyptian Literature: Volume II: The New Kingdom The Egyptian Book Of The Dead: The Hieroglyphic Transcript of the Papyrus of ANI, the Translation into English and An Introduction by E. A. Wallis Budge, Late Keeper of the Egyptian and Assyrian Antiquities in The British Museum The Columbia Anthology of Modern Chinese Literature (Modern Asian Literature Series) History: Greatest Ancient Civilization History: (History Rome, Romans, Egypt, SPQR, Aztec, Ancient China, Ancient Greece, Julius Caesar, Jesus, Muhammed, Alexander the Great) Sumerians: Discover History's First Civilization: Everything You Need to Know About the Sumerians of the Ancient World (Ancient History, Ancient Civilizations Handbook) GREEK MYTHOLOGY: Greek Gods Of Ancient Greece And Other Greek Myths - Discovering Greek History & Mythology - 3rd Edition - With Pics (Greece, Greek, Egyptian ... Greek History, Mythology, Myths Book 1) Ancient Egyptian Cut and Use Stencils Revealing Ancient Egyptian Astronomy: Secrets of Anubis Military History: Historical Armies of the World & How They Changed the World (Greek History, Spartans, Roman Army, Ancient Rome, Egyptian History, Special Ops) The Kemetic Tree of Life Ancient Egyptian Metaphysics and Cosmology for Higher Consciousness Count Like an Egyptian: A Hands-on Introduction to Ancient Mathematics
