Translator Brings Literacy to Classrooms

ARLINGTON, Va. - Oct. 23, 2014 - PRLog -- With U.S. Literacy rates plummeting, its hope for resuscitation lies with such as Ian Johnston.

Ian Johnston is a retired professor of classics from British Columbia who has translated epic works from 4 languages into a more modern English, thus making them far more accessible to the average reader, while, at the same time, remaining true to the original telling. His work has become extremely popular as a grass roots movement.

Johnston’s readers are not just academics, but common, everyday readers. With over 15 million page views to his personal site in the last few years, Professor Johnston's work is considered invaluable by a multitude of individuals from students to educators and classics lovers, as well as the casual reader who has always wanted to read these magnificent works of epic literature, but until now felt shut out by archaic terminology and outmoded style. Preferring instead to translate into a more modern English, Professor Johnston's works are imminently accessible, while at the same time retaining the cadence, clarity and spirit of the original works. Increasingly becoming the translations of choice for students, educators and general readers, these works are popular across a wide range of readers.

First presented to the world on NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday Classics Commentary in early 2007, his legacy is continuing to grow. So popular was that particular spot that it very nearly took both of Homer's new translations to the top of Amazon's best seller list. For an author 3000 years dead, that shows broad interest on the part of the general reader.

Professor Johnston has translated works from Greek, German, French and Latin – nearly 50 in all, and has been hailed as one of the world’s most prolific translators. With over 3 dozen titles released in the last few years and more due out net year, Professor Johnston is one of the most published translators of all time. He has also been deemed the "best" by his many thousands of readers. A sampling of this feedback has been made available on the publisher’s website at www.RicherResourcesPublications.com

"Students reading these translations will have no doubt of the passion and issues raised by the plays," commented Princeton professor Emerita Elaine Fantham. The translations have been used in numerous dramatic performances around the world, including at Oxford and in Philadelphia. "I find his work powerful and direct and I value his translations because they are so immediate."

All of these texts are available for full preview on our website.

Naxos Audiobooks continues to use Ian’s works in translation for their new classic audio titles, most recently adding his translations of Aristotle and Lucretius to their line. Richer Resources Publications has plans to release all of Professor Johnston’s works over the next 24 months.

A more complete biography of Professor Johnston can be provided upon request. The Professor is available for interview from his home in British Columbia. An interview can be set up via his publisher by return email.

Richer Resources Publications is dedicated to the creation of high quality books and other media intended to enrich the lives of people of all ages.