The Odyssey

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 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.

And I have been reading The Odyssey for a long time. It was the third great Epic poem I read, and the first of the 'Western' cannon. Emily Wilson's version in iambic pentameter is just... I don't know... almost too beautiful for words. If you're only going to read English translations of The Odyssey or The Iliad once in your lifetime, my recommendation would be to read Wilson's (for both). To Tamsin Alsbury (another Amazon UK reviewer below), the style of page edge design (see photo) in these Wilson editions brought out by W W Norton, is known as "deckled edges". Yes, it is deliberate. Because it is beautiful. Because it recalls another time, when beauty and quality meant a great deal. Like Homer’s epics and Wilson’s translations.

I hate to write this as a Classicist and as a Homerist but my book arrived not fully cut, the pages are rough and I haven’t seen a book as unfinished as this before. Initially I thought it was deliberate until a friend and avid reader explained why it looked that way. In terms of Wilson’s work and translation, I used this as one of many translations for my Master’s Dissertation and having translated the Ancient Greek myself, it is very true to the original as well as Homeric verse. I have been studying Homer’s Odyssey for nineteen years now and I don’t care which copy you pick up, as long as you read it but you can’t go wrong with Wilson. Overall 5 stars for content but 3 stars for quality.

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.

Beautiful to read and beautiful to hold.

This book is gorgeous... I love just picking it up and flicking through the pages! The double-edged binding gives the pages a real sense of a dusty old folio, being passed on down the ages. Makes me Inner bookworm go 'squee!' 😅 There's a fascinating introduction and translation notes to help immerse you in the history of the work, and a lovingly laid out retelling in iambic pentameter that eaisly keeps the flow and drive of Homer's epic. Very pleased with this purchase!

A wonderful translation. Totally gripping.

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.

La gente que dice que están mal cortadas las páginas se exhibe en su desconocimiento editorial. Las páginas están cortadas así a propósito, con barbas asemejando a los libros intonso, libros cuyos pliegos no estaban cortados, luego de cortar sus hojas, lo que le da un aire de antigüedad bien elegabte; en inglés se llama deckled edge. La edición es preciosa y la traducción muy buena, según he comparado con otras.

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。

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.

If you want to read the Odyssey but are intimidated by previous translations....I highly recommend Emily Wilson's translation. It is a delight to read.