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The Odyssey

By Homer
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Odyssey is an epic poem attributed to Homer, focusing on the adventures of Odysseus as he attempts to return home after the Trojan War. The story explores his encounters with mythical creatures, divine interventions, and the challenges he faces in his quest to reunite with his family in Ithaca. It captures themes of perseverance, cunning, and the enduring human spirit.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Embark on an ancient epic journey through storytelling that weaves tales of adventure, bravery and the power of cunning. You might enjoy this timeless classic if you're intrigued by epic quests, the whims of gods, and the resilience of a hero struggling to return home against all odds. Dive into a world where each encounter with mythical creatures and legendary beings challenges and transforms the protagonist.

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A lean, fleet-footed translation that recaptures Homer’s "nimble gallop" and brings an ancient epic to new life.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

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 travellers, 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 Homer's music; matching the number of lines in the Greek original, the poem sails 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.

Lists

The Odyssey & Trojan War Classics (and Retellings)

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780393356250

Publisher: WW Norton & Co

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 November 2018

Country: United States

Imprint: WW Norton & Co

Illustration: 3 maps

Contributors:

  • Translated by Emily Wilson
  • Translated by Emily Wilson

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 33.0mm

Width: 145.0mm

Height: 208.0mm

Weight: 648g

Pages: 592

Collections

Ancient & Classical History Arts & Culture Best Sellers at Book Hero Best Selling Books Classic Poetry Homer In Stock Arts & Culture Books In Stock Books Most Popular Books of All Time New Zealand's Best Selling Books Non-Fiction Poetry Popular Poetry

About the Author

Emily Wilson is a professor of classical studies at the University of Pennsylvania. She has been named a Fellow of the American Academy in Rome in Renaissance and early modern studies, a MacArthur Fellow, and a Guggenheim Fellow. In addition to Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, she has also published translations of Sophocles, Euripides, and Seneca. She lives in Philadelphia.

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