Arthur Way

Who was Arthur Way?

Arthur Sanders Way, was a classical scholar, translator and headmaster of Wesley College, Melbourne, Australia.

Arthur Way, son of the Rev. William Way and his wife Matilda, née Francis, was born at Dorking, England. He was educated at Kingswood School, Bath, and graduated M.A. at University of London. From 1870 to 1876 he was classical lecturer at Queen's College, Taunton, vice-master of Kingswood School, 1876 to 1881, and in 1882 became headmaster of Wesley College, Melbourne. He had already published his translation of the Odyssey of Homer, and while at Wesley brought out his translation of the Iliad.

At Wesley he fostered the teaching of natural science, and also brought in the teaching of commercial principles for boys likely to pursue a business career, but the number of students went down during his period, largely because of the financial depression which began in 1889. He resigned in 1892 and spent most of the rest of his life in translating from the classics. Probably no other translator could compare with Way in fertility and versatility. Way's versions give accurate renderings of the meaning of the originals expressed in vigorous verse.