The Odyssey

Eminently readable as well as vivid and exciting, this translation delivers Homer and the wily hero Odysseus with energy and clarity.

This translation has great poetic rhythm, and very approachable language. Wilson also provides insightful analysis in the introduction and summaries providing context for some of the tradeoffs she made in translation.

In high school and college, I had been assigned extracts from Homer, translated in stiff and stuffy styles. I was not impressed. I did not pursue his books further further until I read about this new translation by Emily Wilson. It was worth the wait. Wilson’s text reads well while retaining a poetic style in translation, a major achievement in itself. Even better, she does so while avoiding the masculine-centered assumptions of other translators. This does not mean changing Homer, who wrote in and about a patriarchal world, but instead trying to see the women as Homer did, and not as a Victorian Englishman would. (I exaggerate, but you get the idea.) You can see Wilson’s perspectives in her extensive introduction, most of which you can see in Amazon’s “Look Inside!” feature. Unfortunately, you can’t preview her “Translator’s Note,” which explains her decisions about style and other matters. The introduction includes passages from her translation, so read those and see what you think. I read the book on Kindle, and it worked well as an epic narrative. Some reviewers object to Wilson’s style because they don’t like how it sounds when read aloud. Sample some excerpts on the page and out loud and see what works for you. Wilson’s translation is grammatically simpler than those in the critical reviewers’ preferred translations, so try comparing those. The style feels somewhat like a Germanic epic to me, which suggests connections to a shared Proto Indo-European style lost to history. It’s possible that the critical reviewers prefer stuffy translations, and they may prefer them as a matter of English style or as a matter of Homeric Greek (which I don’t read). Read some of the three-star reviews before making a decision. I certainly found this translation a great read.

I didn’t read this in school, but I don’t think I would have appreciated it as much as I do now. The theme of “Xenia” — the love of the stranger stood out to me as one of the greatest themes of the story. I think that this is one of the reasons the story of Odysseus has been passed down through the ages.

I read this last month and found it the most readable version/translation I have ever approached. I noticed so many differences! If you have ever read the Odyssey, or if you haven’t, pick THIS ONE up and read it now. You will not regret doing so.

This modern translation of a great epic pulsates with tension to its bitter bloody end, keeping the reader enthralled. The translation from ancient Greek strips all verbosity and in economical verses moves the story along swiftly, vividly bringing to life the story of Odysseus and the Bronze Age coastal world he lived in. It limns a portrait of Odysseus as a man determined to get home to his beloved wife and kingdom using only his wits, shrewdness, courage and resourcefulness. The last few chapters that culminate in a horrendous bloodbath feature an equally strong, courageous and shrewd Penelope and his son Telemachus.

For fans of the odyssey, Emily’s translation is a must read. Very different language than the most that try to elevate the language. Rather, her translation is direct and fast moving, giving the story a new sense of urgency and pacing.

Despite being classic literature, which I once thought was only enjoyed by elitist academics, I found it to be really interesting even exciting. Wilson's translation doesn't rely on using 18th-century language in a misguided attempt to capture a feeling of antiquity, which really helps. The book starts with a lenghty but interesting discussion of the how and why of her translation as well as sharing many insights into the nature and characteristics of the gods and people portrayed. If you were expecting a dull and boring story think again.

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!

Das beste an diesem Buch sind aus meiner Sicht die Hintergrundinformationen der Autorin (Übersetzerin) zur Entstehung der Geschichte, div. Hinweisen warum sie welches Wort auf eine bestimmte Art übersetzt hat, etc.

A wonderful translation. Totally gripping.

Acostumado a ler “Odisseia” vertida elegantemente do grego para o inglês por homens como Mandelbaum, Pope, Lattimore, Fagles e Fitzgerald, me surpreendi com a qualidade da “magra” versão de Emily Wilson. Trata-se de uma nova e autêntica versão – a primeira em inglês de “Odisseia” feita por uma mulher. Sabemos que a tentativa de uma nova tradução de "Odisseia" é como representar uma peça de Shakespeare. Muito do seu público conhece bem o trabalho, e eles tomam seus assentos com as expectativas já estabelecidas, e com as interpretações de performances favoritas reverberando em suas cabeças. Ao mesmo tempo, você terá membros na audiência que nunca viram a peça, a quem você terá que fornecer a introdução de um gigante da literatura ocidental. E não nos esqueçamos daqueles que foram sob coação, temendo as próximas horas de tédio. Você precisa encontrar uma maneira de falar com esses grupos diferentes, esgueirando-se para além das defesas dos devotos, enquanto atrai aqueles menos familiares. É uma tarefa ambiciosa, que exige habilidade, astúcia e nervos fortes, qualidades que definem o próprio Ulisses – protagonista de "Odisseia”. Eu tinha por hábito, até ler “Memórias de Adriano” (Marguerite Yourcenar – veja resenha), revisar uma tradução, estabelecer uma passagem especial e compará-la com a de seus predecessores. Analisava principalmente a beleza das palavras e os efeitos linguísticos. É um exercício divertido e tem lá seu mérito, mas, no final, não deixa de ser uma abordagem fragmentada, servindo mais para ajudar o leitor na compra de uma versão especifica. Esse método não responde questões essenciais do trabalho como um todo: o tradutor teve uma visão cuidadosa e abrangente? Ele tem a habilidade de sustentá-la? Ele traça um curso coerente entre virtudes geralmente e mutuamente exclusivas como musicalidade, clareza, beleza e legibilidade? E o mais importante, que aprendi com Marguerite Yourcenar, ele conta bem a história? No caso da nova e inteligente "Odisseia", de Emily Wilson, a resposta a todas questões acima é um ressonante sim. Admiro a coragem desta mulher, e sua abordagem vívida e ousada com o objetivo de, como ela declara logo na abertura, – “contar uma história antiga para os nossos tempos modernos”. Ela prioriza a velocidade e o impulso narrativo de Homero, procurando capturar o que ela chama de “galo galimado” de seu verso, escrevendo em pentâmetro iâmbico, limitando-se, de forma impressionante, ao mesmo número de linhas do original de Homero. Lembro o leitor que cinco linhas de grego antigo “incham” facilmente para 10 em inglês ou português. Enfim, é raro encontrar uma tradução que seja ao mesmo tempo tão fácil de ler e tão rigorosamente considerada. A "Odisseia" de Emily Wilson tem uma performance que merece nossos aplausos. Boa leitura!

Lo estoy leyendo actualmente y me parece formidable. La traducción de Emily Wilson es muy buena y amena.