The Odyssey
Product ID: 99538737
Homer’s great epic of a hero’s journey home—inspiration for the major motion picture by Christopher Nolan—in a bold, contemporary, and refreshingly readable translation. "Wilson’s language is fresh, unpretentious and lean. . . . It is rare to find a translation that is at once so effortlessly easy to read and so rigorously considered." —Madeline Miller, author of Circe Composed at the rosy-fingered dawn of world literature almost three millennia ago, The Odyssey is a poem about violence and the aftermath of war; about wealth, poverty, and power; about marriage and family; about travelers, hospitality, and the yearning for home. This fresh, authoritative translation captures the beauty of this ancient poem as well as the drama of its narrative. Its characters are unforgettable, none more so than the “complicated” hero himself, a man of many disguises, many tricks, and many moods, who emerges in this version as a more fully rounded human being than ever before. Written in iambic pentameter verse and a vivid, contemporary idiom, Emily Wilson’s Odyssey sings with a voice that echoes the epic’s music, sailing along at Homer’s swift, smooth pace. A fascinating, informative introduction explores the Bronze Age milieu that produced the epic, the poem’s major themes, the controversies about its origins, and the unparalleled scope of its impact and influence. Maps drawn especially for this volume, a pronunciation glossary, and extensive notes and summaries of each book make this an Odyssey that will be treasured by a new generation of readers. Review: A Well-Written and Thoughtful Contemporary Translation - I have read and studied many translations of the Odyssey. Emily Wilson's is unique for several reasons. She uses a shorter poetic line than others, which makes the reading fast-paced and concise. She refuses to euphemize the slaves as "servants" and "handmaidens" the way most translators do. She avoids trying to sound archaic. If you have had trouble making it through other translations of the Odyssey, this is the one for you to try. Wilson is incredibly thoughtful about all of her translation choices, and she details these decisions in her introduction (and on her Substack). You will definitely want to read her introduction, which is full of information and ideas that will help readers understand Homer's world, Ancient Greek culture, the themes and characters, and the politics of translation. Wilson is both an amazing translator and a great scholar. I recently wrote Homer's Odyssey Retold for Young Adults (ISBN: 979-8245756035). In doing so, I re-read many translations (Fagles', Lombardo's, Fitzgerald's, and Wilson's). All of them, along with Daniel Mendelsohn's recent one, are worthwhile, often for different reasons. Wilson uses a ten-syllable line, about half as long as Homer's, while limiting herself to the same overall number of lines as he used. That means she has to leave out a lot. Other translators use longer lines and/or allow themselves more lines overall than Wilson does. I encourage readers to sample many translations by using the "Search Inside" feature on desertcart to find the one (or ones!) that best speaks to them. Physically, this edition of the book is well-made and beautiful. Instead of the usual picture of Odysseus, the cover features a detail from an ancient Minoan fresco painting known as "Ladies in Blue," accented with reflective gold, silver, and blue foil. The book's deckel edges give it the feel of a special edition. The pages are thick, the margins ample, and the binding user-friendly. Frank Hering, author of Homer's Odyssey Retold for Young Adults (ISBN: 979-8245756035) and Virgil's Aeneid Retold for Young Adults (ISBN: 978-1687197221). Review: A Translation That Actually Moves - I picked up Emily Wilson’s translation of The Odyssey in hardcover, and it ended up being one of the most unexpectedly engaging reading experiences I’ve had with a classic. What stands out immediately is the clarity. This version reads clean and direct without feeling stripped down or overly modernized. Wilson doesn’t try to imitate archaic English, but she also doesn’t flatten the poetry. The language has rhythm, momentum, and intention. You feel the story moving forward, which matters a lot for a narrative built on journeys, delays, and returns. The pacing is noticeably sharper than in other translations I’ve tried. Scenes that can feel dense or repetitive elsewhere—especially the wanderings or the court scenes—come through with tension and purpose. Odysseus feels less like a distant mythic figure and more like a complicated, sometimes frustrating human being. The same goes for Penelope, who comes across as far more perceptive and controlled than in many older versions. One thing I appreciated was how Wilson handles tone. She doesn’t romanticize everything. There’s a groundedness to the violence, the power dynamics, and the treatment of servants and women that feels more honest to the world the poem is coming from. It doesn’t feel like the text is being “cleaned up” or softened. Physically, the hardcover itself is well made. It has a solid weight, the binding feels durable, and the layout is easy on the eyes. The lines are spaced in a way that supports the flow of the verse rather than making it feel cramped or academic. If you’ve struggled to get through The Odyssey before, this is probably the version that will change that. And if you already know the story, this translation still offers something new—it sharpens the characters and makes the emotional undercurrents more visible without losing the epic scale. Overall, this is one of the most readable and thoughtful translations available right now. It respects the original while actually inviting you into it, which isn’t something every version manages to do.
| Best Sellers Rank | #1,005 in Kindle Store ( See Top 100 in Kindle Store ) #1 in Epic Poetry (Books) #1 in Contemporary Poetry #1 in Ancient & Classical Literature |
F**G
A Well-Written and Thoughtful Contemporary Translation
I have read and studied many translations of the Odyssey. Emily Wilson's is unique for several reasons. She uses a shorter poetic line than others, which makes the reading fast-paced and concise. She refuses to euphemize the slaves as "servants" and "handmaidens" the way most translators do. She avoids trying to sound archaic. If you have had trouble making it through other translations of the Odyssey, this is the one for you to try. Wilson is incredibly thoughtful about all of her translation choices, and she details these decisions in her introduction (and on her Substack). You will definitely want to read her introduction, which is full of information and ideas that will help readers understand Homer's world, Ancient Greek culture, the themes and characters, and the politics of translation. Wilson is both an amazing translator and a great scholar. I recently wrote Homer's Odyssey Retold for Young Adults (ISBN: 979-8245756035). In doing so, I re-read many translations (Fagles', Lombardo's, Fitzgerald's, and Wilson's). All of them, along with Daniel Mendelsohn's recent one, are worthwhile, often for different reasons. Wilson uses a ten-syllable line, about half as long as Homer's, while limiting herself to the same overall number of lines as he used. That means she has to leave out a lot. Other translators use longer lines and/or allow themselves more lines overall than Wilson does. I encourage readers to sample many translations by using the "Search Inside" feature on Amazon to find the one (or ones!) that best speaks to them. Physically, this edition of the book is well-made and beautiful. Instead of the usual picture of Odysseus, the cover features a detail from an ancient Minoan fresco painting known as "Ladies in Blue," accented with reflective gold, silver, and blue foil. The book's deckel edges give it the feel of a special edition. The pages are thick, the margins ample, and the binding user-friendly. Frank Hering, author of Homer's Odyssey Retold for Young Adults (ISBN: 979-8245756035) and Virgil's Aeneid Retold for Young Adults (ISBN: 978-1687197221).
R**L
A Translation That Actually Moves
I picked up Emily Wilson’s translation of The Odyssey in hardcover, and it ended up being one of the most unexpectedly engaging reading experiences I’ve had with a classic. What stands out immediately is the clarity. This version reads clean and direct without feeling stripped down or overly modernized. Wilson doesn’t try to imitate archaic English, but she also doesn’t flatten the poetry. The language has rhythm, momentum, and intention. You feel the story moving forward, which matters a lot for a narrative built on journeys, delays, and returns. The pacing is noticeably sharper than in other translations I’ve tried. Scenes that can feel dense or repetitive elsewhere—especially the wanderings or the court scenes—come through with tension and purpose. Odysseus feels less like a distant mythic figure and more like a complicated, sometimes frustrating human being. The same goes for Penelope, who comes across as far more perceptive and controlled than in many older versions. One thing I appreciated was how Wilson handles tone. She doesn’t romanticize everything. There’s a groundedness to the violence, the power dynamics, and the treatment of servants and women that feels more honest to the world the poem is coming from. It doesn’t feel like the text is being “cleaned up” or softened. Physically, the hardcover itself is well made. It has a solid weight, the binding feels durable, and the layout is easy on the eyes. The lines are spaced in a way that supports the flow of the verse rather than making it feel cramped or academic. If you’ve struggled to get through The Odyssey before, this is probably the version that will change that. And if you already know the story, this translation still offers something new—it sharpens the characters and makes the emotional undercurrents more visible without losing the epic scale. Overall, this is one of the most readable and thoughtful translations available right now. It respects the original while actually inviting you into it, which isn’t something every version manages to do.
R**Y
Read it! Life is an Odyssey…
Movie, who needs a movie when ya got imagination? Thank you Dr. Wilson for this magnificent and fun translation! So entertaining and thought provoking if you enjoy pondering the ancients. Pairs well with the Circe novel by M. Miller.
J**N
incredible translation
I only read this in prep for the movie. I don’t think I would have ever enjoyed the regular story. I hated it when I originally read it, granted it was for school and I was a freshman in HS. (I’m going to my freshman year of college next year) Books aren’t my thing but I enjoyed this
G**S
An understandable and quick read of a classic..
Although there is a debate over which version of The Odyssey is more accurate, or more literary, or more poetic, I have to say that Watson's version is the one to read if you are new to the story. Written in contemporary language, one can read this quickly and understand the storyline. Just one example is comparing this version to the original English version by Charles Eliot. In book 23 Odysseus tells his son, "Telemachus, leave now thy mother to make trial of me within the chambers; so shall she soon come to a better knowledge than heretofore." (Eliot) Watson writes, "You must allow your mother to test me out; she will soon know me better." I highly recommend this as a first pass into the Odyssey .
M**J
Excellent and learned translation
The forward is as valuable as the story itself. It greatly improves your understanding and appreciation of the work. It provides a context that illuminates the story.
F**R
a wonderful translation of the epic Odyssey
Full of facts and insights about Homer’s Odyssey, and the great yet troubled Odysseus. Very readable and engaging. A must read.
S**F
Beautiful book
I decided to read this great classic again after many years. The translation seems to be well done and the book is very nice, which definitely adds to the experience of reading a great masterwork of literature.
H**N
متضرر
وصلني الكتاب وبالنصف فيه زي الشق واضح والصفحات داخله ببعض بسببه
A**R
Thank you!
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!
A**E
THE PAGES!!
The pages are not cut correctly. This is not a printing error, but it’s deliberately designed that way.
M**O
Una obra con excelente cuidado editorial
Un deleite su lectura así como la introducción histórico-critica que ayuda a contextualizar esta obra maestra de la literatura clásica
1**L
訳者の力量を感じられ読み応えのある作品
IntroductionとTranslator's Noteだけで91ページを割いており、これを読むだけでも十分満足できる内容でした。流石Emily Wilsonの力量を感じます。
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