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The Odyssey
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The Odyssey
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See moreA 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
A lean, fleet-footed translation that recaptures Homer's "nimble gallop" and brings an ancient epic to new life.
The first great adventure story in the Western canon, the Odyssey is a poem about violence and the aftermath of war; about wealth, poverty, and power; about marriage, family, and identity; and about travellers, hospitality, and the changing meanings of home in a strange world.
This vivid new poetic translation—the first ever by a woman—matches the number of lines in the Greek original, thus striding at Homer's sprightly pace. Eschewing showy poeticisms and high-flown rhetoric, Emily Wilson employs elemental, resonant language and a five-beat line to produce a translation with an enchanting "rhythm and rumble" that avoids proclaiming its own grandeur or importance.
An engrossing tale told in a compelling new voice that allows contemporary readers to luxuriate in Homer's magical descriptions and similes and to thrill at the tension and excitement of its hero's fantastical adventures, Wilson's Odyssey recaptures what is "epic" about this wellspring of world literature.
3 maps
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?
Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey is celebrated for its clarity, accessibility, and fresh perspective. Reviewers note her use of iambic pentameter and straightforward language, transforming the ancient text into a modern, engaging read. Wilson's work is praised for challenging traditional gendered interpretations and offering a lively, new interpretation well-suited for contemporary readers. Her translation is described as musical, direct, and full of energy, with a deep understanding of the original text's nuances.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780393089059
Publisher: WW Norton & Co
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 01 December 2017
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: 38.0mm
Width: 165.0mm
Height: 244.0mm
Weight: 966g
Pages: 592
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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