Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
This new translation of the Odyssey (the first by a woman) is excellent. It retains the poetry of the older ones but is very readable by a contemporary audience. The introduction is also very good, and it has a pronunciation guide to the names, which is helpful. Even the translator’s introduction, which talks about technical issues in everyday language, proved interesting.
I have read several translations of The Odyssey (and taught it several times), and they all have their merits. They often say as much about the times of the translator as they do about ancient Greece. Here, I found a few contemporary word choices that were jarring to me, but, for the most part, I loved this one. My personal favorite reference is to the "distant Ethiopians, / who live between the sunset and the dawn" (I.22-23).
I have read several translations of The Odyssey (and taught it several times), and they all have their merits. They often say as much about the times of the translator as they do about ancient Greece. Here, I found a few contemporary word choices that were jarring to me, but, for the most part, I loved this one. My personal favorite reference is to the "distant Ethiopians, / who live between the sunset and the dawn" (I.22-23).
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Emily Wilson’s translation doesn’t shy away from the realities of Greek and Roman lives, especially slavery or using more (traditionally) masculine terms to describe a female character. This was my first time reading this classic and I can’t recommend it enough.
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-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:
No
This was my first time reading the actual Odyssey and not a retelling, children’s version, adaptation, etc. This translation was great and very readable. It was interesting to me that you don’t actually travel back with Odysseus - most of his famous trials are told about after the fact - and there was much more about his son, Telemachus, than I expected. Also, much more weeping. It makes sense that Odysseus does a lot of weeping, given all that happened to him, but this has never been represented in any of the versions I have read or watched.
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
slow-paced
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
I listened to the Librivox recording of Samuel Butler’s translation.
I had to read the Iliad a couple times in college, but this is the first time I’d ever read the Odyssey. The thing I found most surprising was the structure. Its always framed as the story of how Odysseus gets home after Troy but its actually more about how the suitors invading his home get handled, most of his earlier adventures take place in flashback.
I had to read the Iliad a couple times in college, but this is the first time I’d ever read the Odyssey. The thing I found most surprising was the structure. Its always framed as the story of how Odysseus gets home after Troy but its actually more about how the suitors invading his home get handled, most of his earlier adventures take place in flashback.
