Dominic Christopher Henry Rieu (26 October 1916 – 29 April 2008) was a classical scholar and the son of the classicist and publisher E. V. Rieu.

Background

After attending Highgate School, he studied English and Classics at

Queen's College, Oxford The Queen's College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford, England. The college was founded in 1341 by Robert de Eglesfield in honour of Philippa of Hainault, queen of England. It is distinguished by its predominantly neoclassi ...

. As a member of the West Yorkshire Regiment in 1941, he was injured at Cheren in Eritrea, and subsequently awarded the

Military Cross The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level until 1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) Other ranks (UK), other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth of ...

. Rieu served as headmaster of Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys in

Canterbury Canterbury (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the county of Kent, England; it was a county borough until 1974. It lies on the River Stour, Kent, River Stour. The city has a mild oceanic climat ...

from 1955 until 1977. Rieu did a translation of the ''Acts of the Apostles'' in the

Penguin Classics Penguin Classics is an imprint (trade name), imprint of Penguin Books under which classic works of literature are published in English language, English, Spanish language, Spanish, Portuguese language, Portuguese, and Korean language, Korean amon ...

series and, with Dr Peter Jones, revised his father's translations of ''

The Odyssey The ''Odyssey'' (; ) is one of two major epics of ancient Greek literature attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest surviving works of literature and remains popular with modern audiences. Like the ''Iliad'', the ''Odyssey'' is divi ...

'' and the ''

Iliad The ''Iliad'' (; , ; ) is one of two major Ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest extant works of literature still widely read by modern audiences. As with the ''Odyssey'', the poem is divided into 24 books and ...

''. While acknowledging his father's "towering skill", Rieu made amendments to some undue embroidery of phrase and Greek manners, disdain for anonymous gods, formulaic abuse and modernistic prose. "Some of his racier colloquialisms, however, I have kept, provided they come in dialogue; the narrative passages call for a degree of formality.

Poseidon Poseidon (; ) is one of the twelve Olympians in ancient Greek religion and mythology, presiding over the sea, storms, earthquakes and horses.Burkert 1985pp. 136–139 He was the protector of seafarers and the guardian of many Hellenic cit ...

, in his fury with

Odysseus In Greek mythology, Greek and Roman mythology, Odysseus ( ; , ), also known by the Latin variant Ulysses ( , ; ), is a legendary Greeks, Greek king of Homeric Ithaca, Ithaca and the hero of Homer's Epic poetry, epic poem, the ''Odyssey''. Od ...

, says (literal translation): 'I mean to give him his full trouble yet.' EVR's 'bellyful of trouble' is much livelier -- and typical of the irascible Poseidon."D. C. H. Rieu's preface to ''The Odyssey'' (Penguin, 2003), p. ''viii''. When he and Dr Peter Jones took up the task of revising E. V. Rieu's translation of ''The Odyssey'', they determined to retain (and in places even enhance) its charm. "Our alterations were in fact puny," wrote Rieu Junior in the preface. Although keen to maintain Homer's formulaic construction, he revised the archaic preliminaries used prior to speeches. "The patient good Odysseus answering him said: 'Friends .." becomes "'Friends,' replied the patient good Odysseus ... Rieu involved himself in retirement with the

Samaritans Samaritans (; ; ; ), are an ethnoreligious group originating from the Hebrews and Israelites of the ancient Near East. They are indigenous to Samaria, a historical region of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah that ...

and Cruse Bereavement Counselling. He wrote and edited many books and articles, including ''A Life Within A Life: an Introduction to

Subud Subud (pronounced ) is an international, interfaith spirituality, spiritual movement that began in Indonesia in the 1920s, founded by Muhammad Subuh Sumohadiwidjojo (1901–1987). The basis of Subud is a spiritual exercise called the Latihan ...

''; ''Talks by Muhammad Subuh Sumohadiwidjojo'', compiled and edited by Dominic C.H. Rieu (1983, 2nd edition 2008) and ''The Odyssey'', by Homer; translated by E. V. Rieu; revised by his son D. C. H. Rieu in consultation with Peter V. Jones (1991).

Notes

External links

''Times'' obituary
24 May 2008 English classical scholars 1916 births 2008 deaths People educated at Highgate School Alumni of the Queen's College, Oxford Scholars of ancient Greek literature {{UK-writer-stub