Robert Fitzgerald

Born in 1910 and raised in Illinois, he became one of the most respected American literary translators of the 20th century. He studied at Harvard and built a career that joined poetry, criticism, and teaching with a deep commitment to the classics.

He is especially remembered for his translations of Homer, including the Odyssey and later the Iliad, as well as work on Virgil and Greek drama. Readers and critics admired the way his translations aimed for both accuracy and a living poetic voice, making ancient works feel natural in English without losing their grandeur.

Alongside his translation work, he published his own poetry and taught at several universities. He died in 1985, but his translations remain widely read and continue to introduce new generations to classical literature.