Translated works connect ancient classics to modern society

Two new major Chinese translation works, The Four Books of Xenophon and Quintilian: A Roman Educator and His Quest for the Perfect Orator, will be showcased in the Classical Civilization Achievements Exhibition at the second World Conference of Classics in Athens, Greece, from June 9 to 10.

These works are part of the "Classics and Interpretation" series published in collaboration with the Shanghai Translation Publishing House and the Division of Classics with the Institute of Foreign Literature of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Edited by Liu Xiaofeng and He Fangying, the series aims to systematically translate and study classical works from both Chinese and international civilizations, creating an academic discourse that connects the ancient with the modern.

Themed "Dialogue Between Ancient and Modern: Contemporary Inspirations from Classical Wisdom", this year's biennial conference aims to explore the modern role and mission of classical studies, focusing on how classical wisdom can be revitalized to address the opportunities and challenges of our times and offering insights and guidance for the development of human society and the advancement of civilization today.

As one of the largest, most comprehensive series in China's classical studies field, the "Classics and Interpretation" series is committed to expanding its editorial philosophy of blending ancient and modern insights while valuing both the classics and their interpretation. Through thorough translation and research, the series seeks to help Chinese scholars better understand the historical context and modern relevance of classical civilizations worldwide.

In 2026, Shanghai Translation Publishing House officially launched the "Classics and Interpretation" series. From 2026 to the first half of 2027, about 10 works will be published, with plans to expand the series to around 100 titles.

Xenophon (430-354/355 BC) was an ancient Greek writer born in Athens. He was a follower of Socrates in his youth. At 30, he joined a military expedition to Persia and was later elected to commander, leading 10,000 soldiers back to Greece. He eventually settled in Sparta, where he lived until his death.

Known as the "Muse of Attica", Xenophon wrote extensively across various genres, including philosophy, history, politics, ethics, military science, and economics, leaving a lasting influence on future generations. Compared with Plato's Socrates, Xenophon's portrayal of Socrates is more worldly and political. The two portrayals complement each other.

Translated by Peng Lei, a professor specializing in Western classics, classical political philosophy and Shakespearean drama at Renmin University of China, from the Greek language, The Four Books of Xenophon includes four works by Xenophon featuring Socrates as the main character: Memoirs of Socrates, Oeconomicus, Symposium, and Apology of Socrates.

These works showcase different facets of Socrates and convey Xenophon's interpretation of his political philosophy. Peng treats these four works as a unified collection, aiming to present a more comprehensive portrayal of Socrates as depicted by Xenophon. The Greek text is based on the edition compiled by the British classicist EC Marchant in Xenophon: Opera Omnia.

Quintilian: A Roman Educator and His Quest for the Perfect Orator by George A Kennedy is the first comprehensive English-language book on Quintilian.

Quintilian was an educator and orator in ancient Rome. His work, The Education of an Orator, is the first comprehensive treatise on educational issues in the ancient Western world. It covers foundational content on the theory of argumentation and has become an important basis for later theories on argumentation. As a culmination of ancient Greco-Roman educational thought, Quintilian's theories were rediscovered during the Renaissance and had a significant influence on humanistic education.

The late author Kennedy was an internationally renowned scholar in classical studies and authored foundational works on the history of classical rhetoric, including The Art of Persuasion in Greece, The Art of Rhetoric in the Roman World, Classical Rhetoric and its Christian, and Secular Tradition from Ancient to Modern Times.

The book delves into various aspects of his life, the historical context in which he lived, his intellectual influences, his educational system, and his impact on future generations. It focuses particularly on his major work, Institutio Oratoria (The Education of an Orator), examining it through four main lenses: his educational philosophy, rhetorical theory, literary criticism, and his ideal goals.

Kennedy writes exceptionally clearly and fluently, articulating Quintilian's main ideas and providing a relatively fair assessment. The book is translated by Huang Hanlin, a scholar from the School of Journalism and Communication of South China University of Technology.