[Ads-l] Off-topic: Ηψπατία Λίβ =?UTF-8?Q?=CF=81=CE=B1=CF=81=CF=88_?=?

Joel Berson berson at ATT.NET
Wed Jun 29 16:00:51 UTC 2016


The back cover of a cheaply-produced, I'm sure optically-transcribed, edition of Hawthorne's three "Old News" sketches has on it the two words in Greek script Ηψπατία Λίβραρψ.  (As best I can transcribe the letters.)  The back cover can be seen, I hope, at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1519283350/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_0
("Flip to back.")

Is this real Greek?  (The second word's resemblance to "library", which even my infinitesimal knowledge tells me is not the Greek word for library, makes me suspicious.)  What might it mean, whether or not it is real Greek?  


Please don't ask me why the front cover ascribes this work to Robert Ervin Howard.  But if you know why, please tell me!


Thanks!Joel

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org



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