The Odyssey - by Homer (Hardcover)
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<p/><br></br><p><b> About the Book </b></p></br></br>A lean, fleet-footed translation that recaptures Homer's "nimble gallop" and brings an ancient epic to new life.<p/><br></br><p><b> Book Synopsis </b></p></br></br><p>The first great adventure story in the Western canon, <em>The Odyssey</em> is a poem about violence and the aftermath of war; about wealth, poverty, and power; about marriage and family; about travelers, hospitality, and the yearning for home.</p><p>In this fresh, authoritative version--the first English translation of <em>The Odyssey</em> by a woman--this stirring tale of shipwrecks, monsters, and magic comes alive in an entirely new way. Written in iambic pentameter verse and a vivid, contemporary idiom, this engrossing translation matches the number of lines in the Greek original, thus striding at Homer's sprightly pace and singing with a voice that echoes Homer's music.</p><p>Wilson's <em>Odyssey</em> captures the beauty and enchantment of this ancient poem as well as the suspense and drama of its narrative. Its characters are unforgettable, from the cunning goddess Athena, whose interventions guide and protect the hero, to the awkward teenage son, Telemachus, who struggles to achieve adulthood and find his father; from the cautious, clever, and miserable Penelope, who somehow keeps clamoring suitors at bay during her husband's long absence, to the "complicated" hero himself, a man of many disguises, many tricks, and many moods, who emerges in this translation as a more fully rounded human being than ever before.</p><p>A fascinating introduction provides an informative overview of the Bronze Age milieu that produced the epic, the major themes of the poem, 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 <em>Odyssey</em> that will be treasured by a new generation of scholars, students, and general readers alike.</p><p/><br></br><p><b> Review Quotes </b></p></br></br><br>'Each generation must translate for itself, ' T. S. Eliot declared. Emily Wilson has convincingly answered this call: hers is a vital <em>Odyssey</em> for the twenty-first century that brings into rhythmic English the power, dignity, variety, and immediacy of this great poem.--Laura Slatkin, New York University<br><br>Emily Wilson has produced a clear, vigorous, sensitive <em>Odyssey</em> that conveys both the grand scale and the individual pathos of this foundational story. This is the most accessible, and yet accurate, translation of Homer's masterwork that I have ever read.--Susan Wise Bauer, author of The History of the Ancient World<br><br>Emily Wilson's <em>Odyssey</em> sings with the spare, enchanted lucidity of a minstrel fallen through time. Ever readable but endlessly surprising, this translation redefines the terms of modern engagement with Homer's poetry.--Tim Whitmarsh, author of Battling the Gods<br><br>Having a female scholar and translator look with fresh eyes upon one of the foundational myths of Western civilization is nothing short of revolutionary. Emily Wilson's riveting translation of <em>The Odyssey</em> ripples with excitement and new meaning. This important and timely addition to our understanding of Homer will be enjoyed for generations to come.--Aline Ohanesian, author of Orhan's Inheritance<br><br>This is it--a translation of <em>The Odyssey</em> that is 'eminently rapid...plain and direct, ' as Matthew Arnold famously described Homer himself. It is also contemporary and exciting. A gift.--Barbara Graziosi, author of The Gods of Olympus<br><br>This will surely be the <em>Odyssey</em> of choice for a generation.--Lorna Hardwick, The Open University, London<br><br>To translate Homer's <em>Odyssey</em> from ancient Greek to contemporary English presents the translator with a virtually insurmountable challenge, because our lives, our minds, and our languages are so different from those of the Greeks of eighteen centuries ago. Somehow, Emily Wilson has pulled it off. To read her translation is to receive a tremendous and unexpected gift.--Thomas Cahill, author of Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea<br><br>Wilson's translation is pared down but accurate and readable; it maintains the intrinsic interest of the story and the rapid forward momentum of the poetic line. The metrical regularity is a rare and welcome feature in a modern translation. The diction and tone are contemporary but not slangy or prosaic. All in all, a compelling <em>Odyssey</em> for our time.--Lillian Doherty, University of Maryland<br><br>A remarkable new translation. Poised and unadulterated--a feast for the senses.--Daisy Dunn, author of Catullus' Bedspread<br><br>Irresistibly readable...turns Homeric epic into a poetic feast.--Froma Zeitlin, Princeton University<br><br>A masterpiece of translation--fluent, elegant, vigorous.--Rowan Williams, Master of Magdalene College, University of Cambridge<br><br>A staggeringly superior translation--true, poetic, lively and readable, and always closely engaged with the original Greek--that brings to life the fascinating variety of voices in Homer's great epic.--Richard F. Thomas, Harvard University<br><br>As the first English translation of this ancient tale by a woman, this lively, fast-paced retelling of Homer's epic is long overdue. Much as Homer did in his time, Wilson whisks the audience into a realm both familiar and fantastical. The world of Odysseus and his adventures take shape before the reader's eyes, luminescent once more, in this engaging new translation.--Justine McConnell, King's College, London, author of Black Odysseys<br>
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