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The Odyssey

By Homer
3.84 goodreads logo

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( 1,217,437 ratings, 27,758 reviews)
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 by Homer is a timeless epic poem exploring the adventurous journey of Odysseus as he strives to return home from the Trojan War. Filled with encounters with mythical creatures, divine beings, and epic challenges, the story captures themes of perseverance, loyalty, and the heroโ€™s quest.
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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?

Ideal for readers interested in classical literature, mythology enthusiasts, and those seeking a beautifully rendered, accessible edition of a foundational work in Western culture.

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A lean, fleet-footed translation that recaptures Homerโ€™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

Wilson's language is fresh, unpretentious, and lean. Even knowing the text well, I found myself rapt. Her worthy goal is always to engage readers, inviting them more deeply into the story. In this she succeeds with the skill of an ancient bard.

MADELINE MILLER, author of Circe

When referencing the title, avoid putting it in quotes or speech marks.

Series: The Norton Library

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Wilson's translation brings a fresh, unpretentious, and lean style to this classic, making the ancient tale accessible and captivating even for those familiar with the story. Madeline Miller praises the translation for engaging readers deeply, akin to the skill of an ancient bard.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780393417937

Publisher: WW Norton & Co

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 July 2020

Country: United States

Imprint: WW Norton & Co

Contributors:

  • Translated by Emily Wilson
  • Translated by Emily Wilson

Audience: Tertiary education

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 23.0mm

Width: 127.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 302g

Pages: 480

About the Author

HOMERโ€™s identity is shrouded in mystery. Most scholars agree that an epic poet named Homer likely existed anywhere between 900 to 700 B.C.E. Legend, originating in antiquity, says that Homer was a blind bard from Ionia, but no account of Homerโ€™s life can be verified. The Iliad and The Odyssey, the two epic poems attributed to Homer, which take place during the Trojan War and its aftermath, were derived from the oral storytelling tradition. Their method of compositionโ€”either by a single author or several bards working in tandemโ€”remains unknown. The Homeric Poems are among the most significant narratives in the Greek and Western literary canon. 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 Homerโ€™s Iliad and Odyssey, she has also published translations of Sophocles, Euripides, and Seneca. She lives in Philadelphia.

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