The Odyssey

Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey is a remarkable achievement. Not only is it the first English version by a woman, but it also captures the beauty, complexity, and diversity of Homer's ancient poem. Wilson uses clear and elegant language, and a rhythmic iambic pentameter that echoes the original Greek meter. She also preserves the number of lines in each book, making her translation faithful to the structure and pace of the original. Wilson's Odyssey is a creative and insightful interpretation. She brings out the nuances and ambiguities of Homer's characters, especially the "complicated" hero Odysseus, who is both a cunning trickster and a suffering wanderer. She also pays attention to the perspectives and voices of the women, slaves, and foreigners in the poem, who are often marginalized or silenced in other translations. She challenges the traditional readings of the poem that glorify violence, patriarchy, and colonialism, and instead highlights the themes of hospitality, justice, and identity. This book will enrich the understanding and appreciation of Homer's masterpiece for modern readers. It is a work of art that deserves to be read and enjoyed by anyone who loves literature, poetry, and adventure. I highly recommend this translation to anyone who wants to experience The Odyssey in a new and refreshing way.

Well packaged & delivered as promised. A new & interesting translation with a great introduction.

Ironic the amount of people who purchased this book who do not know how to read. The page cut is on purpose, it is supposed to look this way. It's called deckle-edging and says so in the product description. 10/10 - gorgeous copy. Translation is top notch, one of the beast modern translations for sure for a very easy read.

Emily Wilson’s new translation of ‘The Odyssey’ by Homer uses plain language and straightforward sentences to make the epic poem accessible to all readers. The translation is fluid and easy to follow. Not once did I get a whiff of imposter syndrome or feel like the book was ‘not for someone like me’—a feeling I’ve certainly had when reading other, more elevated translations. However, sometimes the choice of word or phrase does feel a little anachronistic. At the beginning of the book, Wilson explains her approach to the translation and also introduces the text. Both are informative, and not only give context to the text and this version of the translation, but also provide a jumping off point for further reading about Homer and The Odyssey. The notes at the end are helpful, too. Each book is summarised and notes are given to explain certain lines. Overall, this is an enjoyable and enlightening read, and it proves that epic poems like ‘The Odyssey’ aren’t only for those who have studied Literature or Classics, but are something that can be appreciated by everyone. ⚠️ Slavery, misogyny, gore, violence, torture, detail of injury

I learnt more about the world it describes from the introduction than I had from reading other translations of the Odyssey. It is plainly expressed but poetic and very honest in expressing the complexity of the characters making them lively and real in the mind of the reader. The text of the Poem itself is rhythmic and flows naturally making this a very accessible and enjoyable read. The best I’ve ever read, and I’ve read a few!

I wasn't expecting the deckle-cut (rough) finish to the edges but I like it. The uneven pages make it feel like an ancient artefact, not just a good read. Everything else is as expected: the type, paperback binding, the weight of the paper. The metallic touches on the cover are gorgeous. I had the Iliad and Odyssey as a kid and I'm looking forward to reading this translation.

On my bookshelf, I probably have most translations of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey and they are all very good, though some perhaps better than others depending on who you ask. However, these two recent translations by Emily Wilson are absolutely fabulous; beautifully written in a language that is modern and for me captures the essence of the original works. They are also highly attractive texts. Both I have enjoyed reading and both I would recommend. I hope you find my review helpful.

Really good service and an excellent book. The only bit that wasn’t good was yodel, the courier. They emailed me saying they’d tried to deliver my package at 1.33am on a Saturday morning and no one was there to accept the package - half past one in the morning! They lied. Have still given this 5 stars as it’s not the sellers fault the courier couldn’t do their job.

A new translation that goes back to the original text. It drops some of the sanitized translations, which among other things called household slaves “servant”. It also shows Odysseus as both heroic and a schemer, again something sanitized in earlier translations. I specially like that it maintains the poetic structure rather than turning it into text and storytelling. Well done. Funny observation: in many areas this reads like a 2000 year old version of the “Game of Thrones”.

وصلني الكتاب وبالنصف فيه زي الشق واضح والصفحات داخله ببعض بسببه

Thank you gods and Wilson for this amazing book !! If not for this translation I wouldn't have lasted the first round in the battle of reading homer!

The pages are not cut correctly. This is not a printing error, but it’s deliberately designed that way.

The Odyssey by Homer (Emily Wilson - Translator) - The original 'guy just trying to get home' story. Long before the basic understanding of geography, Odysseus decided to take the world’s most scenic route back to Ithaca after the Trojan War. You would think winning a war would earn him a direct ship home, but no. Instead, he gets cursed by a sea god, seduced by immortals, and stuck in what can only be described as a decade-long episode of Squid Games. Odysseus himself is a curious mix of action hero, con artist, as well as a crybaby who keeps making questionable decisions. One moment he is blinding a Cyclops with a burning stick like an absolute legend, and the next he is weeping on a beach while a goddess provides him food. He tells lies like it is an Olympic sport. But you cannot help but root for him, because who among us has not wanted to stab a giant, eat free food, and avoid responsibility for several years? While Odysseus is out there dodging sea monsters and sleeping with goddesses, Penelope is running his household, raising a kid, and fending off suitors with nothing but her wits and an unfinished tapestry. Telemachus, their son is sailing around the Mediterranean and searching for news of his father. The gods in this story are basically just a bunch of petty busybodies. Athena's constantly popping up to give Odysseus cryptic advice, while Poseidon is just throwing tantrums like a toddler who did not get what he wanted. By the end, everyone is either dead or redeemed, and Odysseus finally gets to sit down at his own dinner table again - with fewer worries and more wine. The Odyssey is a wild, weird and often hilarious adventure, full of wisdom, improbable detours, hubris, magical creatures, and why you should never open mysterious wind bags. It is a reminder that even heroes have their flaws, and sometimes, the best journey is the one that ends with a decent meal and a good night's sleep.