Poems, Tales and Translations
Books by J. Simon Harris
A young knight, a perilous quest, a deadly game. Discover an ancient realm of chivalry, magic and temptation in this new facing-page translation in alliterative verse. This edition features the original Middle English text of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the riveting translation by J. Simon Harris, a thorough and fascinating commentary on the poem, a pronunciation glossary of major characters and places, a bibliography of primary sources and related material, and several hand-drawn illustrations including a map of Gawain's journey through Logres and Wales.
Excerpt and short essay published in Forgotten Ground Regained
Review in Publisher’s Weekly / BookLife
“Comparing Harris’s choices to the raw text is a pleasure, and in invitingly plain-spoken end notes and appendices he illuminates the process, the language, the poem’s allegorical and spiritual dimensions, and much more … The text feels resonant on every page.” – Publisher’s Weekly
“This volume provides an edifying, approachable introduction to this foundational work, and readers will enjoy meeting Gawain and seeing how he fares on this exciting adventure composed hundreds of years ago. A highly readable and accessible rendition of a famous tale.” – Kirkus Reviews
Journey with Dante into the bowels of the earth and the profoundest depths of the human soul. The Inferno, the first part of Dante's Divine Comedy, has captivated readers for over seven centuries. This modern translation in terza rima captures the true essence of the Italian poem.
“The book is translated by J. Simon Harris in such a way that you can understand what Dante's original vision was. The very detailed illustrations of not only Florence but also the circles of hell were fascinating. No one has ever translated Dante's vision quite like this. You will gain a new respect for the poet.” – Anelynde Smit, Readers’ Favorite
“J. Simon Harris’s translation of the Inferno is a real work of love. The book is worth reading for all the information, notes, bibliography, and glossary alone! But especially for what seems to be his attempt to capture some of the actual ‘poetry’ of Dante in English … I recommend this to all readers of Dante who want to find something more like Dante himself in English.” – James Sale, The English Cantos
Published in 1924, when Pablo Neruda was only twenty years old, this striking collection of love poems has proven to be the Nobel Laureate’s most popular work. The sensual imagery and heartbreaking verse have inspired lovers and lovers of poetry for nearly a century. This translation by J. Simon Harris captures the fire of the original and stays true to the poetry. This edition includes the original Spanish text of the poems on facing pages, as well as an introduction to the poet and the poems.
“Alongside the stunning translations of J. Simon Harris, Neruda portrays human romance in all its cruel intimacy... Because of the collection’s portrayal of human relationships, as well as its enchanting exploration of the correlation between love and grief, I would recommend this collection to individuals who enjoy literary fiction, poetry, and romance.” – Robin Goodfellow, Readers’ Favorite
It is the middle of the 21st century. Ten years have passed since Philip Titus was abandoned on Lemnos, an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. An American general, he was left for dead by his own comrades at the outset of a war between China and the United States. But now it has become clear that the Americans cannot win the war without Philip Titus and a prototype weapon of his own design, a rifle that cannot miss its targets.
So General Ulysses, the man who marooned him, has come back to the island to persuade the old man who hates him most to come home and fight for the Americans. But before they can even begin to dupe the old soldier into joining them, Ulysses and his hand-picked team must make their way across Lemnos: through the dark jungle on the island’s rim and the long grass beyond it, and into the caverns snaking deep beneath the island’s central volcano.
They face the constant threat of the island’s fauna, and traps left there by Titus, and the unrelenting knowledge that at any moment they might find themselves in the crosshairs of the gun that never misses. And ultimately, because of Titus’ enmity towards him, Ulysses must ensure his elaborate plans to a naïve young captain, the son of a war hero, whose only fault in Ulysses’ eyes is an overbearing—and dangerous—conscience.
Based on the Greek tragedy Philoctetes by Sophocles.