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Homer

Author of The Odyssey

1,788+ Works 129,302 Members 1,135 Reviews 263 Favorited
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About the Author

Homer is the author of The Iliad and The Odyssey, the two greatest Greek epic poems. Nothing is known about Homer personally; it is not even known for certain whether there is only one true author of these two works. Homer is thought to have been an Ionian from the 9th or 8th century B.C. While show more historians argue over the man, his impact on literature, history, and philosophy is so significant as to be almost immeasurable. The Iliad relates the tale of the Trojan War, about the war between Greece and Troy, brought about by the kidnapping of the beautiful Greek princess, Helen, by Paris. It tells of the exploits of such legendary figures as Achilles, Ajax, and Odysseus. The Odyssey recounts the subsequent return of the Greek hero Odysseus after the defeat of the Trojans. On his return trip, Odysseus braves such terrors as the Cyclops, a one-eyed monster; the Sirens, beautiful temptresses; and Scylla and Charybdis, a deadly rock and whirlpool. Waiting for him at home is his wife who has remained faithful during his years in the war. Both the Iliad and the Odyssey have had numerous adaptations, including several film versions of each. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: from Wikipedia
Photograph taken of the bust of Homer
in the British Museum, London

Series

Works by Homer

The Odyssey (0700) — Author — 62,094 copies, 521 reviews
The Iliad (0700) — Author — 47,251 copies, 445 reviews
The Iliad / The Odyssey (0008) 7,140 copies, 53 reviews
The Homeric Hymns (0700) 2,051 copies, 17 reviews
The Iliad, Books 1-12 (1924) 831 copies, 3 reviews
The Odyssey, Books 1-12 (1959) 789 copies, 5 reviews
The Iliad, Books 13-24 (1902) 706 copies, 4 reviews
The Odyssey, Books 13-24 (1919) 576 copies, 3 reviews
Selections from Homer's Iliad (2001) 300 copies, 1 review
The Usborne Illustrated Odyssey (2016) 181 copies, 1 review
The Essential Iliad (2006) 154 copies
The Voyages of Odysseus (1614) 153 copies
Chapman's Homer: The Odyssey (2000) 112 copies
Kings (1991) — Author — 111 copies, 1 review
The Rage of Achilles (1996) 107 copies
Eyewitness Classics: The Odyssey (2000) 102 copies, 3 reviews
Homeri Ilias (1996) 80 copies, 5 reviews
The Cave of the Cyclops (2005) 75 copies
Opera (1902) 74 copies
The Essential Odyssey (Hackett Classics) (2007) 64 copies, 1 review
Odysseus Returns Home (Penguin Epics) (0725) 63 copies, 2 reviews
Classics Illustrated: The Odyssey (1997) 48 copies, 2 reviews
The Odyssey of Homer (1992) 48 copies
The Iliad, Book 1 (2002) — Author — 48 copies
Ilias (1960) 41 copies
Homeros' Odyssee (1980) 36 copies
Homer: Odyssey IX (Greek Texts) (1991) 36 copies, 1 review
The Odyssey of Homer (1977) 33 copies
Homer: Iliad I (1991) 31 copies
The Odyssey (2014) 28 copies
The Iliad of Homer (2018) — Author — 28 copies
The Odyssey I 26 copies
Homer: Iliad I (2000) — Author — 25 copies
The Iliad Abridged (2008) 22 copies, 1 review
L'Odyssée 21 copies
The Odyssey, Books 1-4 (1986) 20 copies
The Odyssey, Books 5-8 (1982) 20 copies, 2 reviews
The first six books of Homer's Iliad (1901) 20 copies, 2 reviews
Odissea (1986) 20 copies
Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite (2000) 18 copies
The Odyssey Abridged (2008) 16 copies
Hinos Homéricos (2010) 15 copies
A Ilíada e a Guerra de Tróia (1900) 14 copies, 1 review
The Odyssey, Books 9-12 (1986) 12 copies
L'Odyssée (2009) 12 copies
Iliad. Book 1 11 copies
La Odisea ilustrada (2020) 11 copies, 3 reviews
Homeros 11 copies
iliada / ιλιάδα (1997) 11 copies
Ilias & Odysseia (2018) 10 copies
The Illiad Of Homer (2016) 10 copies
Ilíada II (1991) 9 copies
Odyssee (Auswahl) (2003) 9 copies
Ilíada y Odisea (2022) 9 copies
The Odyssey of Homer (2010) — Author — 9 copies
The Odyssey, Books 6-7 (1920) 9 copies
Classical Love Poetry (1998) 8 copies
Iliade, tome 2 : Chants IX à XVI (1998) — Author — 7 copies
Odüsszeia (2012) 6 copies
Odyssey, Vol. 1 6 copies
Omero, Iliade (2022) 6 copies
Les aventures d'Ulisses (1987) 6 copies
Tout Homère (2019) — Author — 6 copies
Odisseia (2018) 6 copies
The Odyssey (2019) 5 copies
Odissea II (1900) 5 copies
Odyssey, Vol. 2 5 copies
Odissea I (2019) 5 copies
Ilias - Odyssee [Greek] (2012) 5 copies
L'Odyssée I à IX (1985) 5 copies
ILIADA 5 copies
Tout Homère (2019) 5 copies
Ilíada (2002) 5 copies
L'Odyssée (2021) 5 copies
L'Odyssée (2021) 4 copies
The Iliad, book 1 of 2 (1992) 4 copies
L'Odyssée (2011) 4 copies
Odisseia - Caixa Especial (2007) 4 copies
Odisea (2016) 4 copies
Himnos (1999) 4 copies
Ilíada (vol. I): Cants I-IV (2005) 4 copies, 1 review
Illustrated Iliad (2023) 4 copies
Iliade et l'odyssée (l') (1991) 4 copies
The Story Of The Iliad (1924) 4 copies
Guerre de troie (1989) 4 copies
ULISSES (1986) 4 copies
The Odyssey (0008) 3 copies
Obras completas de Homero (1955) 3 copies
Odyssee. Wortkunde (2012) 3 copies
Ulysse et L'Odyssee (2007) 3 copies
Stories from Homer (2009) 3 copies
Ilíada VOLUMEN II (1989) 3 copies
Homer 3 copies
Odissea 3 copies
The Iliad, book 2 of 2 (1992) 3 copies
Storia di re Odisseo (1995) 3 copies
ILIADE T.2 (1937) 3 copies
L'odyssée (Les incontournables de la littérature en BD) (2010) — Auteur illustré — 3 copies
Mitos clasificados 3 (2007) 3 copies
Homers Werke 3 copies
Cuentos al timón (2014) 3 copies
L'Iliade. Introduction (1943) 3 copies
Homeri Opera Tomus V (1912) 2 copies
Odüsszeia 2 copies
Iliade XIX (1960) 2 copies
Odesseia 2 copies
Iliade. Libro I 2 copies
Odisea (Spanish Edition) (2010) 2 copies
Odyssevskvædet 2 copies
L'iliade Dessins (1986) 2 copies
L'Odissea (1986) 2 copies
Iliada ; Odisea 2 copies
ILÍADA - ODISEA 2 copies, 1 review
ODISSEA canto IX (1969) 2 copies
La Iliàda 2 copies
ODISSEA I (2010) 2 copies
La Ilíada. Volúmen ll (1996) 2 copies
L'Odyssée. X à XXIV (1966) 2 copies
ODISEA,LA - LA ESTACION (2014) 2 copies
Grown In U.S.A. 2 copies
ILLIADA 2 copies
Odyssea 1740 2 copies
The Odyssey 2 copies
Odusszeia (1974) 2 copies
The journeys of Odysseus (2005) 2 copies
Iliadis I - XII 2 copies
Iliaden i udvalg (1997) 2 copies
Ilijada I Odiseja (1977) 2 copies
Iliadis Carmina 2 copies
Uit de Ilias 2 copies
Iliade Chants I a VI (1958) 2 copies
Iliada, #1 2 copies
Les héros de l'Iliade (2009) 2 copies
The Odyssey By Homer 1930 (1930) 2 copies
Odysseia XIII-XXIV (2011) 2 copies
Odysseia I-XII (2011) 2 copies
Oddyssey The 2 copies
Iliad The 2 copies
Odisea 2 copies, 2 reviews
L'Odyssée. Extraits (2000) 2 copies
Odysseia 2 copies
Iliade, chants I et VI (1967) 2 copies
In Cyclop's Cave (2002) 2 copies
Homerus 2 copies
Odissea (2003) 2 copies
Odisea (2023) 2 copies, 1 review
Odissea. Libro 6º (1994) 1 copy
Odissea 1 copy
Iliadis 1-12 1 copy
Odissea in prosa (2014) 1 copy
Odissea 1 copy
ILIADE VOLUME I (1952) 1 copy
Der Froschmäusekrieg (1994) 1 copy
Dall'Odissea 1 copy
Illiade 1 copy
I poemi 1 copy
Iliade e Odissea (2012) 1 copy
Odysseus 1 copy
De Odysséa 1 copy
Odissea. Libro 6. (1991) 1 copy
Iliade: libro 6. (1987) 1 copy
L' Iliade di Omero (2004) 1 copy
Homerus De Odyssee (2019) 1 copy
Dall'Odissea : traduzioni — Author — 1 copy
L'Odyssée (1982) 1 copy
L’odyssée 1 copy
L'Odyssée : Extraits (2003) 1 copy
L'Odyssée 1 copy
L'Odyssée (2022) 1 copy
ოდისეა 1 copy, 1 review
Odyssesy 1 copy
Odyssee 1 copy
Iliada, #1 1 copy, 1 review
The lliad 1 copy
The Illad 1 copy
L'Odyssée: extraits (2011) 1 copy
Илиада 1 copy
Iliade. odysée. (1954) 1 copy
Íliász 1-2 1 copy
ODISEU 1 copy
Homeri Opera 1 copy
Iliasz 1 copy
Ilias 1 copy
Ιλιάδα (1995) 1 copy
The Odyssey (1942) 1 copy
Илiада 1 copy
The Odyssey1 1 copy
Ilíada (Antología) (1962) 1 copy
La Odisea (2022) 1 copy
Iliada. Rapsodia 1 (1977) 1 copy
La Odisea; La Ilíada (2000) 1 copy
O Disséia 1 copy
La Ilíada I 1 copy
Odyssee 1 copy
Omero minore 1 copy
ILIADA BOLSILLO (2000) 1 copy
Ilíada v.3 1 copy
The Odyssey 1 copy
LA ILLIADA 1 copy
Ilíada: Cantos I y II (2011) 1 copy
EL TALON DE AQUILES (2017) 1 copy
Obras (1973) 1 copy
Ilíada Odisea (1997) 1 copy
HIMNOS HOMÉRICOS (2013) 1 copy
Odisseia 1 copy
La Odisea (1999) 1 copy
La Ilíada (XXI) 1 copy, 1 review
Illíada 1 copy
La iliada ; La odisea 1 copy, 1 review
A ODISSEIA 1 copy
La Odisea 1 copy
A Ilíada 1 copy
LA ODISEA 1 copy
ODISEA Mirador (2014) 1 copy
La Odisea (2017) 1 copy
Análisis de La iliada (1991) 1 copy
A Ilídia 1 copy
Odisea (2023) 1 copy
Iliad book XVIII (2019) 1 copy
O pesništvu 1 copy
The ILIAD: Annotated (2017) 1 copy
Odyssee (2010) 1 copy
The Iliad: 3 Editions (2014) 1 copy
Te Odyssey 1 copy
La muerte de Patroclo (1994) 1 copy
Lliad & Odyssey (2020) 1 copy
[Works] 1 copy
Opera, IV 1 copy
Opera, I 1 copy
Agamemnon 1 copy
The Odyssey of Homer, Vol. 2 — Author — 1 copy
The Odyssey of Homer, Vol. 1 — Author — 1 copy
Odessey II 1 copy
Opera, tomvs I-V — Author — 1 copy
Troy 1 copy
Odyssey 2ND EDITION (1974) 1 copy
Obras completas de Homero 1 copy, 1 review
HOMER: THE ODYSSEY (1997) 1 copy
Homer's odyssey : book I 1 copy, 1 review
Odysey 1 copy
The Idyssey 1 copy
Ulysses 1 copy
ILIADA LA Antares (2014) 1 copy
L'Odyssée d'Homère (2023) 1 copy
Les Textes fondateurs (2009) 1 copy
L'Odyssée (extraits) (2002) 1 copy
L'iliade t. 2 (1960) 1 copy
L'Iliade et l'Odyssée (2010) 1 copy
La Odisea (2017) 1 copy
L'Odyssée (1993) 1 copy
Odisseya 1 copy, 1 review
Striden vid Troja (1990) 1 copy
Odüsseia (1963) 1 copy
Odyssey (2014) 1 copy
Odysseia Çizgi (2016) 1 copy
The Odyssey 1 copy
The Ilian 1 copy
Omir Iliada 1 copy
Sparknotes the Iliad (2002) 1 copy
Voyage d'ulysse (1992) 1 copy
Ilíada I 1 copy
The Epics (2022) 1 copy
Mutations (2023) 1 copy
Iliad [abridged] (2010) 1 copy
October Sky 1 copy
L'Odissea 1 copy
ILIADA I 1 copy
The Odissey 1 copy

Associated Works

Troy [2004 film] (2004) — Poem — 766 copies, 6 reviews
The Best Loved Poems of Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis (2001) — Contributor — 619 copies, 11 reviews
World Poetry: An Anthology of Verse from Antiquity to Our Time (1998) — Contributor — 496 copies, 2 reviews
The Rag and Bone Shop of the Heart: A Poetry Anthology (1992) — Contributor — 439 copies, 4 reviews
The Portable Greek Reader (1948) — Contributor, some editions — 433 copies
Memorial (2011) — Author — 382 copies, 11 reviews
Greek Lyric Poetry (1994) — Author — 318 copies, 2 reviews
The Penguin Book of Hell (2018) — Contributor — 273 copies, 5 reviews
The Penguin Book of Homosexual Verse (1983) — Contributor — 256 copies, 3 reviews
Great Stories of the Sea & Ships (1940) — Contributor — 196 copies
The Odyssey: A Dramatic Retelling of Homer's Epic (2004) — Story — 187 copies, 3 reviews
100 Eternal Masterpieces of Literature, Volume 1 (2017) — Contributor — 175 copies
The Columbia Anthology of Gay Literature (1998) — Contributor — 170 copies
The Faber Book of Beasts (1997) — Contributor — 168 copies, 1 review
Great Short Stories of the World (1925) — Contributor — 163 copies, 1 review
The Book of Love (1998) — Contributor — 151 copies
The Oxford Book of Villains (1992) — Contributor — 150 copies
The Penguin Book of Mermaids (2019) — Contributor — 140 copies, 3 reviews
Heroic Fantasy Short Stories (Gothic Fantasy) (2017) — Contributor — 109 copies
The Norton Book of Friendship (1991) — Contributor — 104 copies
The Odyssey: A BabyLit Monsters Primer (2016) — Contributor — 90 copies
From the Tower Window (1921) — Contributor — 88 copies, 2 reviews
Pirates & Ghosts Short Stories (Gothic Fantasy) (2017) — Contributor — 79 copies
The Iliad (Marvel Illustrated) (2008) — Contributor — 73 copies, 2 reviews
The Odyssey [1997 TV miniseries] (1997) — Original story — 68 copies, 3 reviews
Queer: A Collection of LGBTQ Writing from Ancient Times to Yesterday (2021) — Contributor, some editions — 64 copies
Stories from the Iliad and Odyssey (1962) 58 copies, 2 reviews
The Odyssey (2012) — Original work — 56 copies, 3 reviews
The Faber Book of Gardens (2007) — Contributor — 51 copies, 2 reviews
The Odyssey (Marvel Illustrated) (2009) — Contributor — 50 copies, 2 reviews
Ulysses [1954 film] (1954) — Original poem — 43 copies, 1 review
Heavy Metal Presents Ulysses (Volume 1) (1974) — Source — 41 copies
The Book of the Sea (1954) — Contributor — 40 copies
Best Loved Books for Young Readers 14 (1969) 39 copies, 1 review
Lapham's Quarterly - Lines of Work: Volume IV, Number 2, Spring 2011 (2011) — Contributor — 32 copies, 2 reviews
Komt een Griek bij de dokter humor in de oudheid (2007) — Contributor — 27 copies
The Odyssey (Classic Fiction) (2017) — Contributor — 25 copies
The Iliad (Classic Fiction) (2017) — Contributor — 24 copies
The Heart of a Stranger: An Anthology of Exile Literature (2019) — Contributor — 21 copies
Helen of Troy [1956 film] (1956) — Original poem — 18 copies, 1 review
Ulysses. Volume 2: The Return (1975) — Source — 12 copies
Modern School Classics : Four Greek authors (1968) — Contributor — 12 copies
The Iliad #1 (of 8) (Marvel Illustrated) (2007) — Contributor — 9 copies
The Iliad #4 (of 8) (Marvel Illustrated) (2008) — Contributor — 7 copies
The Iliad #3 (of 8) (Marvel Illustrated) (2008) — Contributor — 7 copies
The Iliad #2 (of 8) (Marvel Illustrated) (2008) — Contributor — 7 copies
Learning to Be Human Short Stories (Gothic Fantasy) (2024) — Contributor — 6 copies
The Iliad #8 (of 8) (Marvel Illustrated) (2008) — Contributor — 5 copies
The Iliad #6 (of 8) (Marvel Illustrated) (2008) — Contributor — 5 copies, 1 review
The Iliad #5 (of 8) (Marvel Illustrated) (2008) — Contributor — 5 copies
The Iliad #7 (of 8) (Marvel Illustrated) (2008) — Contributor — 5 copies
The Iliad: A BabyLit Greek Mythology Primer (2024) — Contributor — 5 copies
Mon cher Papa... : Des écrivains et leur père (2007) — Contributor — 5 copies
Marvel Classics Comics No. 18 (1977) — Story — 4 copies
The Odyssey #2 (of 8) (Marvel Illustrated) (2017) — Contributor — 3 copies
The Odyssey #1 (of 8) (Marvel Illustrated) (2017) — Contributor — 3 copies
Ulysses (Volumes 1 & 2) — Source — 3 copies
The Odyssey #3 (of 8) (Marvel Illustrated) — Contributor — 2 copies
Epic: The Troy Saga (2024) — Original story — 2 copies
Historier fra de syv have — Author, some editions — 2 copies, 1 review
The Odyssey #4 (of 8) (Marvel Illustrated) — Contributor — 2 copies
The Odyssey #5 (of 8) (Marvel Illustrated) (2017) — Contributor — 1 copy
The Odyssey #6 (of 8) (Marvel Illustrated) — Contributor — 1 copy
The Odyssey #7 (of 8) (Marvel Illustrated) — Contributor — 1 copy
The Odyssey #8 (of 8) (Marvel Illustrated) — Contributor — 1 copy

Tagged

adventure (478) ancient (763) Ancient Greece (2,046) Ancient Greek (550) ancient literature (540) antiquity (559) classic (2,915) classic literature (571) classical (570) classical literature (893) classics (6,740) epic (2,760) epic poetry (1,694) fiction (4,965) Greece (2,069) Greek (3,600) Greek literature (1,932) Greek mythology (1,138) history (942) Homer (2,836) Iliad (461) literature (3,422) mythology (4,024) poetry (7,563) read (909) to-read (3,011) translation (913) Trojan War (721) Troy (457) war (552)

Common Knowledge

Canonical name
Homeros
Other names
Homeros
Homerus
Birthdate
c. 9th Century BCE (disputed)
Date of death
c. 8th Century BCE (disputed)
Gender
male
Occupations
poet
Short biography
Homer is the semi-legendary author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, two epic poems that are the central works of ancient Greek literature. Many accounts of Homer's life circulated in classical antiquity, the most widespread being that he was a blind bard from Ionia, a region of central coastal Anatolia in present-day Turkey. Modern scholars consider these accounts legendary.
Nationality
Ancient Greece
Ionia
Birthplace
Smyrna (Anatolia, Ancient Greece [reputed])
Athens (Ancient Greece [reputed])
Ithaca (Ancient Greece [reputed])
Pylos (Ancient Greece [reputed])
Colophon (Ancient Greece [reputed])
Argos (Ancient Greece [reputed]) (show all 7)
Chios (Ancient Greece [reputed])
Place of death
Ios, Greece (reputed)
Burial location
unknown
Map Location
Greece

Members

Discussions

The Iliad & The Odyssey, LE (12.viii.2025) in Folio Society Devotees (Sunday 12:19pm)
Recommend a fine press edition of The Odyssey? in Fine Press Forum (April 27)
The best English translation of Iliad in Homer, the Trojan war, and pre-classical Greece (September 2025)
Question about different Homer editions in Franklin Library Collectors (June 2025)
Bruce Rogers' design of T. E. Shaw's Odyssey in Fine Press Forum (April 2025)
Best translation of the Iliad? in Geeks who love the Classics (December 2024)
"Best" translation of Iliad & Odyssey? in Folio Society Devotees (June 2023)
The Odyssey in Fine Press Forum (March 2023)
Homer's Iliad in Ancient Greek in Fine Press Forum (January 2022)
Le Salon reads the Iliad in Le Salon Littéraire du Peuple pour le Peuple (April 2020)
Companion Books to the Iliad in Homer, the Trojan war, and pre-classical Greece (July 2017)
Iliad by George Chapman in Ancient History (December 2016)
The New Iliad Translation in Ancient History (June 2015)
Lifetime Reading Plan in 1001 Books to read before you die (July 2014)
Homer in Ancient History (November 2012)
Reading Homer in Homer, the Trojan war, and pre-classical Greece (November 2011)
Odyssey v Iliad in Homer, the Trojan war, and pre-classical Greece (June 2010)
Odyssey questions in Homer, the Trojan war, and pre-classical Greece (June 2010)
Homeric allusions in Homer, the Trojan war, and pre-classical Greece (December 2009)
Troy/Homer in Ancient History (May 2008)

Reviews

1,244 reviews
No matter how many times I read the Odyssey, I'm always surprised at how little space is given to Odysseus's meanderings between Troy and his captivity with Calypso. The lotus-eaters get about a dozen lines, the sirens even fewer; the Laestrygonians accomplish their cannibalistic, fleet-wrecking revenge in less than a page. Meanwhile we get four whole books of Odysseus living it up with the Phaeacians (not that I ever get tired of hearing about the succulent roast meat, bread and wine) and show more seven books of caginess, dissembling, loyalty tests, and general crafty plotting from when he finally lands back in Ithaca to when he announces himself with that badass arrow-shot through the axe-heads.

My favourite moment will always be at the end of Book V, where Odysseus at his lowest ebb, exhausted and bedraggled having gone twelve rounds with Poseidon and only still alive thanks to the attentions of a passing naiad, crawls ashore on Scherie and beds down under the twin olive trees, covering himself in dry leaves. Just profoundly peaceful. Respite from the ever-terrifying ungovernable winedark sea. And of course the old "my name is Nobody" pranking of Polyphemus, ho ho.
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This is a super old story, and I’m grateful for the chance to experience it through Emily Wilson’s translation. From the beginning, Wilson’s goals were clear in her introduction: to make this epic approachable and entertaining, and she absolutely succeeded. I read much of it aloud to my partner, especially during the more intense moments, like when eyes were popping out or a king calling his surviving children trash. Despite its length and the volume of action, there are a few checks show more that remind you it takes place over just a few days. The symbolism and meaning packed into this are remarkable. I was pleased to have so much of it explained through the detailed notes. It’s fascinating how this ancient story reflects a culture behind in many ways, yet still has so much to teach us. The expressions of grief and sexuality stood out, especially compared to our more restrictive modern society. I am so impressed this translation is in iambic pentameter (think Shakespearean plays). It made it much easier to digest as an English-trained reader compared to the original dactylic hexameter. As a poem, it’s daunting, but it comes to life when read aloud. I loved the maps, genealogies, and the extensive notes and glossary. I’m looking forward to diving into The Odyssey next! show less
Richard Bentley said of Alexander Pope's translation of the Iliad, "It is a pretty poem, Mr Pope, but you must not call it Homer." This covers most modern efforts as well, but Lattimore is the notable exception. Lattimore is probably the best Greek scholar ever to translate Homer into English, and a fairly good poet as well. His Homer is as close as the anglophone reader will ever get to the original, following the Greek line by line, preserving most of the formulae and repetitions. I often show more hear the Greek echoing in my mind as I read it: πόδας ὠκὺς Ἀχιλλεύς, βοῶπις ποτνὶα Ἡρη, κτλ.

The Iliad is, of course, about a warrior aristocracy, not the most admirable people by modern standards. They boast, they fight, they wrangle over prizes. But it is also a deep look at human mortality and the shortness of life. Glaukos' brief speech in the midst of battle compares the generations of men to leaves. Many heroes, Greek and Trojan, "bite the earth" (yes, "bite the dust" goes back to Homer). The poem ends in death and mourning for Patroklos and Hektor; Achilleus and Priam briefly united by grief.
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I love Emily Wilson's translation. It feels direct, letting the poet speak in my language. Where the story feels archaic, it is because of the story, not a layer of translation.

The introduction is really useful for understanding the story. Long, but worth it.

The last paragraph of the introduction is this invitation to the reader. Read this for her writing style but also for her approach to the book. The Odyssey is a book of hospitality and stories. Listen carefully.


There is a stranger
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outside your house. He is old ragged, and dirty. He is tired. He has been wandering, homeless, for a long time, perhaps many years. Invite him inside. You do not know his name. He may be a thief. He may be a murderer. He may be a god. He may remind your of your husband, your father, or yourself. Do not ask questions. Wait. Let him him sit on a comfortable chair and warm himself beside your fire. Bring him some food, the best you have, and some wine. Let him eat and drink until he is satisfied. Be patient. When he is finished, he will tell you his story. Listen carefully. It may not be as you expect.
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Lists

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scav (1)
AP Lit (1)
TBR (1)
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Awards

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Associated Authors

Alexander Pope Contributor, Translator
Andrew Lang Translator, Introduction
Jacques Lob Author, Script Writer
Georges Pichard Author, Illustrator
W.E.J. Kuiper Translator, Composer
T. A. Buckley Translator
Rita Petruccioli Illustrator
Miguel Lalor Imbiriba Dessins, Couleurs
Paul Cauer Editor
Walter Leaf Translator, Editor
A. T. Murray Translator
T. E. Page Editor
Charles Boer Translator
Emo Verkerk Illustrator
George Chapman Translator
Theodore Alois Buckley Translator, Editor
Robert Graves Translator
George Steiner Translator
Emily Wilson Translator
Nicolas Duffaut Illustrator
Paul Mazon Translator
Paul Jesson Narrator
Coluthus Contributor
Tryphiodorus Contributor
Robert Fagles Translator, Editor
Ennis Rees Translator
S. H. Butcher Translator, Introduction
Dan Stevens Narrator
John Flaxman Illustrator
Bernard Knox Introduction
Augusts Ģiezens Translator
Otto Steen Due Translator
Gail Belenson Cover designer
Garry Wills Preface
C. Vosmaer Translator
Kurts Fridrihsons Illustrator
Martin Clarentius Gertz Translator, Editor
Erland Lagerlöf Translator
Emily R. Wilson Translator
Jan Stolpe Editor
Sheila Murnaghan Introduction
Edwin Linkomies Preface, Foreword
Hans Erni Illustrator
G. S. Kirk Introduction
Gerhard Bendz Translator
Otto Manninen Translator
Stanley Lombardo Translator
Wolfgang Schadewaldt Translator, Introduction
Carles Riba Translator
William Morris Translator
E. V. Rieu Translator
Richard Wilding Translator
Emil Antonucci Cover designer
P.C. Boutens Translator
Allen Mandelbaum Translator
Anton Christian Illustrator
Fausto Codino Foreword
Norman Dietz Narrator
Imme Dros Translator
Anthony Heald Narrator
Bertus Aafjes Translator
T. E. Lawrence Translator
Ian McKellen Narrator
Léon Belly Cover artist
Barry Moser Illustrator
Leo Dillon Cover artist
Barry B. Powell Translator
José Manuel Pabón Editor literario
Claire Danes Narrator
Philip Pascuzzo Cover designer
W. H. D. Rouse Translator
Ingvar Björkeson öVersäTtare.
Kotobuki Corporation Cover designer
Samuel Butler Translator
Otto Gelsted Translator
T. E. Shaw Translator
Yuri Rasovsky Narrator
Robert Squillace Introduction
Ben Shaw Afterword
Arthur S. Way Translator
C H Rieu Editor
George E. Dimock Translator
Diane Dillon Cover artist
Antonietta Gostoli Contributor
Steele Savage Illustrator
C.J. Kelfkens Cover designer
John Lescault Narrator
Herbert J. Muller Contributor
Stephen Mitchell Translator
Leonard Baskin Illustrator
E. V. Rieu Translator
Thomas Parnell Contributor
Tom Holland Afterword
fernandezmatthieu Bibliographie
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Thomas Clark Translator
José Alsina Clota Introduction
Patrick Lateur Translator
Ian C. Johnston Translator
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Giovanni Cerri Translator
Ernest Myers Translator
Anton Lesser Narrator
Eugène Lasserre Translator
Derek Jacobi Narrator
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Gábor Devecseri Translator
Martin Hammond Introduction
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F. Melian Stawell Introduction
M.A. Schwartz Translator
Gilbert Highet Introduction
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Sarah Ruden Translator
Sheila Murnachan Introduction and Notes
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Diane J. Rayor Translator
Thelma Sargent Translator
Albert Cook Translator
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Sean Kelly Translator
Michael Koch Translator
Valerie Marchant Translator
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T. Parnell Translator
Gilbert P. Rose Translator
呉 茂一 Translator
William Cowper Translator
松平 千秋 Translator
Aemilius Portus Translator
Wilhelm Dindorf Translator
Anna Dacier Translator
Gabriele Santini Illustrator

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