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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not my favorite translation of the book, but I did like her take on some aspects.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
adventurous
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Mary Wilson’s translation of The Odyssey was incredibly impressive. What stood out most was her use of 21st-century English to retell Homer’s epic. This choice made the text so much more accessible and digestible while staying faithful to the spirit of the original. I especially appreciated her note that keeping the poem in an artificially “old-sounding” English doesn’t add value, since both Old English and Modern English are just as far removed from the ancient Greek. I’m curious how it will withstand the test of time as more people read and critique it.
Wilson’s translation is consistent yet alive with small variations in repeated imagery. For example, the recurring description of Dawn arriving with her rose-colored fingers always carried the same tone but was worded slightly differently each time. These subtle shifts kept the language fresh while honoring the rhythmic feel of Homer’s style.
As for the story itself, I was struck by how strange Odysseus is as a hero. In many ways he feels like an anti-hero—often cruel, frequently called “the city sacker,” and shockingly violent—yet the narrative still compels us to cheer for him. Penelope, however, was my favorite character. Her wit shines through, particularly in the famous weaving ruse where she unraveled her loom to outsmart the suitors. What seems like such a simple trick in hindsight highlights how easily they were deceived, and it adds a humorous edge to her intelligence.
Overall, Wilson’s translation breathes new life into The Odyssey, balancing readability with poetic resonance. It’s a version that makes the ancient story feel immediate and relevant, without losing the depth and complexity of Homer’s epic.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
~3~
Llegit en castellà. Des del meu punt de vista se m'ha fet més pesat q la Ilíada però ha sigut interessant llegir alguns dels mites i històries que ja coneixia.
Llegit en castellà. Des del meu punt de vista se m'ha fet més pesat q la Ilíada però ha sigut interessant llegir alguns dels mites i històries que ja coneixia.
For everyone that suffered through E.V Rieu's (1956) translation, this ones for you. Emily Wilson is a genius.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 stars, rounded up because it is a very accessible read for a translation of a Greek classic and I would still recommend this to people trying to get into the Western canon (surely, i enjoyed reading this version more than the one I read in uni)