Sarah Ruden Livres

"Destined to become a definitive edition, an eminently readable new translation of the Gospels from one of today's most respected exponents of ancient literature, allowing readers from all walks of life to appreciate these important texts with fresh eyes and renewed understanding. In this remarkable new translation of the Gospels, Sarah Ruden treats the books of Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John with unprecedented precision, uniquely concentrating on the original words and sensitively reflecting on their historical and literary context, to give us the most accessible version of the text available to date. Stripping away the accretions of later theology and pedantry that cover standard English editions of the Bible, this masterful translation presents each Gospel as a narrative that can be read clear through and understood on its own terms. In her skillful and illuminating introduction, Ruden explains where the Gospels came from, how their forms evolved, and how they set about revolutionizing world thought. Succinct yet illuminating footnotes and a discursive glossary explain the many word choices that depart from the traditional ones. The result is a striking and persuasive reappraisal of the "good news" of the Gospels. An extraordinary feat of scholarship and understanding, Sarah Ruden's welcoming new translation is a ground on which a great variety of readers can meet, forming the basis for new debate, discussion, and inspiration for years to come"-- Provided by publisher

Sarah Ruden delves into the writings of the evangelist Paul, placing them within the cultural and historical context of his era. The book aims to reveal Paul's true message of freedom and love, challenging prevalent misconceptions that portray him as puritanical or reactionary. By examining his work against the backdrop of his time, Ruden seeks to offer a fresh perspective on Paul's contributions and beliefs, highlighting their relevance and depth beyond traditional interpretations.

Through deep analysis of six significant poems, Sarah Ruden offers a fresh perspective on Sylvia Plath's work, emphasizing her role as a master mythmaker akin to ancient Greek poets. Ruden contends that Plath's poetry transcends personal narrative, serving to explore and define the essence of human experience. This reexamination challenges prevailing narratives shaped by Plath's tumultuous life and the polarized views surrounding her legacy, illuminating her towering ambition and the depth of her genius as a poet.

In this dazzling reconsideration of the language of the Old and New Testaments, acclaimed scholar and translator of classical literature Sarah Ruden argues that the Bible’s modern translations often lack the clarity and vitality of the originals. Singling out the most famous passages, such as the Genesis creation story, the Ten Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Beatitudes, Ruden reexamines and retranslates from the Hebrew and Greek, illuminating what has been misunderstood and obscured in standard English translations. By showing how the original texts more clearly reveal our cherished values, Ruden gives us an unprecedented understanding of what this extraordinary document was for its earliest readers and what it can still be for us today.

"A biography of Vergil, Rome’s greatest poet, by the acclaimed translator of the Aeneid The Aeneid stands as a towering work of Classical Roman literature and a gripping dramatization of the best and worst of human nature. In the process of creating this epic poem, Vergil (70–19 BCE) became the world’s first media celebrity, a living legend. But the real Vergil is a shadowy figure; we know that he was born into a modest rural family, that he led a private and solitary life, and that, in spite of poor health and unusual emotional vulnerabilities, he worked tirelessly to achieve exquisite new effects in verse. Vergil’s most famous work, the Aeneid, was commissioned by the emperor Augustus, who published the epic despite Vergil’s dying wish that it be destroyed. Sarah Ruden, widely praised for her translation of the Aeneid, uses evidence from Roman life and history alongside Vergil’s own writings to make careful deductions to reconstruct his life. Through her intimate knowledge of Vergil’s work, she brings to life a poet who was committed to creating something astonishingly new and memorable, even at great personal cost."--Dust jacket