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Which literary works did Sir Richard Burton translate while living in Trieste?
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Sir Richard Burton
Richard Burton, c. 1880.
While living in Trieste, Sir Richard Burton became a prolific translator, focusing on both classical literature and Eastern erotica. His notable translations from this period include:
- Classical and Literary Works: He translated six volumes of CamƵes, the Il Pentamerone (a collection of Neapolitan tales by Giambattista Basile), and Latin poems by Catullus.1
- Eastern Erotica: Driven by a desire to introduce Eastern sexual wisdom to the West, he translated the Kamasutra (1883), Ananga Ranga (1885), and The Perfumed Garden of the Cheikh Nefzaoui (1886).1
- The Arabian Nights: He published an unexpurgated 16-volume edition of the Arabian Nights (1885ā88), which was widely noted for its literary skill, fidelity, and extensive ethnological annotations.21
Burtonās work in this period was marked by a bold challenge to the social hypocrisies of the Victorian era, often incorporating daring essays on topics such as homosexuality and pornography.1