The Odyssey

I have read and studied many translations of the Odyssey. Emily Wilson's is unique for several reasons. She uses a shorter poetic line than others, which makes the reading fast-paced and concise. She refuses to euphemize the slaves as "servants" and "handmaidens" the way most translators do. She avoids trying to sound archaic. If you have had trouble making it through other translations of the Odyssey, this is the one for you to try. Wilson is incredibly thoughtful about all of her translation choices, and she details these decisions in her introduction (and on her Substack). You will definitely want to read her introduction, which is full of information and ideas that will help readers understand Homer's world, Ancient Greek culture, the themes and characters, and the politics of translation. Wilson is both an amazing translator and a great scholar. I recently wrote Homer's Odyssey Retold for Young Adults (ISBN: 979-8245756035). In doing so, I re-read many translations (Fagles', Lombardo's, Fitzgerald's, and Wilson's). All of them, along with Daniel Mendelsohn's recent one, are worthwhile, often for different reasons. Wilson uses a ten-syllable line, about half as long as Homer's, while limiting herself to the same overall number of lines as he used. That means she has to leave out a lot. Other translators use longer lines and/or allow themselves more lines overall than Wilson does. I encourage readers to sample many translations by using the "Search Inside" feature on Amazon to find the one (or ones!) that best speaks to them. Physically, this edition of the book is well-made and beautiful. Instead of the usual picture of Odysseus, the cover features a detail from an ancient Minoan fresco painting known as "Ladies in Blue," accented with reflective gold, silver, and blue foil. The book's deckel edges give it the feel of a special edition. The pages are thick, the margins ample, and the binding user-friendly. Frank Hering, author of Homer's Odyssey Retold for Young Adults (ISBN: 979-8245756035) and Virgil's Aeneid Retold for Young Adults (ISBN: 978-1687197221).

I picked up Emily Wilson’s translation of The Odyssey in hardcover, and it ended up being one of the most unexpectedly engaging reading experiences I’ve had with a classic. What stands out immediately is the clarity. This version reads clean and direct without feeling stripped down or overly modernized. Wilson doesn’t try to imitate archaic English, but she also doesn’t flatten the poetry. The language has rhythm, momentum, and intention. You feel the story moving forward, which matters a lot for a narrative built on journeys, delays, and returns. The pacing is noticeably sharper than in other translations I’ve tried. Scenes that can feel dense or repetitive elsewhere—especially the wanderings or the court scenes—come through with tension and purpose. Odysseus feels less like a distant mythic figure and more like a complicated, sometimes frustrating human being. The same goes for Penelope, who comes across as far more perceptive and controlled than in many older versions. One thing I appreciated was how Wilson handles tone. She doesn’t romanticize everything. There’s a groundedness to the violence, the power dynamics, and the treatment of servants and women that feels more honest to the world the poem is coming from. It doesn’t feel like the text is being “cleaned up” or softened. Physically, the hardcover itself is well made. It has a solid weight, the binding feels durable, and the layout is easy on the eyes. The lines are spaced in a way that supports the flow of the verse rather than making it feel cramped or academic. If you’ve struggled to get through The Odyssey before, this is probably the version that will change that. And if you already know the story, this translation still offers something new—it sharpens the characters and makes the emotional undercurrents more visible without losing the epic scale. Overall, this is one of the most readable and thoughtful translations available right now. It respects the original while actually inviting you into it, which isn’t something every version manages to do.

I only read this in prep for the movie. I don’t think I would have ever enjoyed the regular story. I hated it when I originally read it, granted it was for school and I was a freshman in HS. (I’m going to my freshman year of college next year) Books aren’t my thing but I enjoyed this

As someone who has always loved Greek mythology, particularly the stories of its women, I absolutely appreciate Emily Wilson’s translation of The Odyssey. Her approach feels fresh, accessible, and thoughtful without sacrificing the complexity of Homer’s original work. What makes this translation especially compelling to me is Wilson’s attention to gender, power, and the treatment of women throughout the epic. Rather than romanticizing or glossing over the uncomfortable aspects of ancient Greek society, she allows readers to confront them. As someone who enjoys examining mythology through a feminist lens, I find that particularly refreshing. Wilson’s language is elegant yet straightforward, making the story feel remarkably alive despite being thousands of years old. She reminds us that these ancient stories are not just about heroic adventures, but also about human nature, morality, power, and whose perspectives have historically been valued. I highly recommend this translation, especially to anyone who loves Greek mythology but also appreciates questioning the traditional narratives surrounding its heroes. Sometimes the most interesting part of mythology isn’t the hero himself, but the people whose stories have been overshadowed by his.

Full of facts and insights about Homer’s Odyssey, and the great yet troubled Odysseus. Very readable and engaging. A must read.

I read this in 2018 and reread it in 2026. It remains an excellent and inspired translation the second time around.

Although there is a debate over which version of The Odyssey is more accurate, or more literary, or more poetic, I have to say that Watson's version is the one to read if you are new to the story. Written in contemporary language, one can read this quickly and understand the storyline. Just one example is comparing this version to the original English version by Charles Eliot. In book 23 Odysseus tells his son, "Telemachus, leave now thy mother to make trial of me within the chambers; so shall she soon come to a better knowledge than heretofore." (Eliot) Watson writes, "You must allow your mother to test me out; she will soon know me better." I highly recommend this as a first pass into the Odyssey .

First off, Claire Danes is an excellent narrator of this audio book. I really enjoyed listening to her read. This version is outstanding, imo, because it has a 2hr introduction that explains so much about the mythology, characters and arc of the story, before even beginning the epic poem. This 2 hr introduction is crammed with significant information which made listening to the reading of The Odyssey poem so enjoyable. I remember reading this in our 9th grade english clash. Our teacher spent a lot of time answering our questions along the way to clarify the poem, which the version our class read was found to be challenging. This Audible version, with the 2hr introduction, would be great for school kids, as well as any adult. I hope you enjoy this version as much as I did.

وصلني الكتاب وبالنصف فيه زي الشق واضح والصفحات داخله ببعض بسببه

The pages are not cut correctly. This is not a printing error, but it’s deliberately designed that way.

Un deleite su lectura así como la introducción histórico-critica que ayuda a contextualizar esta obra maestra de la literatura clásica

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。

The first book by Homer I have read. I thought it may be a bit boring but it was a very engaging story and very well written. Emily Wilson is a excellent author.