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Homer

Author of The Odyssey

1,805+ Works 130,228 Members 1,136 Reviews 264 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 — 62,538 copies, 521 reviews
The Iliad (0700) — Author — 47,561 copies, 446 reviews
The Iliad / The Odyssey (0008) 7,219 copies, 53 reviews
The Homeric Hymns (0700) 2,056 copies, 17 reviews
The Iliad, Books 1-12 (1924) 833 copies, 3 reviews
The Odyssey, Books 1-12 (1959) 791 copies, 5 reviews
The Iliad, Books 13-24 (1902) 708 copies, 4 reviews
The Odyssey, Books 13-24 (1919) 578 copies, 3 reviews
Selections from Homer's Iliad (2001) 300 copies, 1 review
The Usborne Illustrated Odyssey (2016) 183 copies, 1 review
The Essential Iliad (2006) 155 copies
The Voyages of Odysseus (1614) 154 copies
Chapman's Homer: The Odyssey (2000) 113 copies
Kings (1991) — Author — 112 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) 65 copies, 1 review
Odysseus Returns Home (Penguin Epics) (0725) 64 copies, 2 reviews
Classics Illustrated: The Odyssey (1997) 48 copies, 2 reviews
The Iliad, Book 1 (2002) — Author — 48 copies
The Odyssey of Homer (1992) 48 copies
Ilias (1960) 41 copies
Homer: Odyssey IX (Greek Texts) (1991) 36 copies, 1 review
Homeros' Odyssee (1980) 36 copies
The Odyssey of Homer (1977) 33 copies
Homer: Iliad I (1991) 31 copies
The Odyssey (2014) 29 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) 21 copies
The Odyssey, Books 5-8 (1982) 21 copies, 2 reviews
Odissea (1986) 21 copies
The first six books of Homer's Iliad (1901) 20 copies, 2 reviews
Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite (2000) 19 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) 13 copies
L'Odyssée (2009) 12 copies
La Odisea ilustrada (2020) 11 copies, 3 reviews
iliada / ιλιάδα (1983) 11 copies
Iliad. Book 1 11 copies
Homeros 11 copies
Ilias & Odysseia (2018) 10 copies
The Illiad Of Homer (2016) 10 copies
Odyssee (Auswahl) (2003) 9 copies
The Odyssey, Books 6-7 (1920) 9 copies
Ilíada y Odisea (2022) 9 copies
The Odyssey of Homer (2010) — Author — 9 copies
Ilíada II (1991) 9 copies
Classical Love Poetry (1998) 8 copies
Iliade, tome 2 : Chants IX à XVI (1998) — Author — 7 copies
Les aventures d'Ulisses (1987) 6 copies
Odüsszeia (2012) 6 copies
Odyssey, Vol. 1 6 copies
Omero, Iliade (2022) 6 copies
Tout Homère (2019) — Author — 6 copies
Odisseia (2018) 6 copies
Himnos (1999) 5 copies
The Odyssey (2019) 5 copies
Storia di re Odisseo (1995) 5 copies
Odyssey, Vol. 2 5 copies
Ilíada (2002) 5 copies
Odissea II (1900) 5 copies
ILIADA 5 copies
Tout Homère (2019) 5 copies
L'Odyssée (2021) 5 copies
Ilias - Odyssee [Greek] (2012) 5 copies
Odissea I (2019) 5 copies
L'Odyssée I à IX (1985) 5 copies
ULISSES (1986) 4 copies
Odisseia - Caixa Especial (2007) 4 copies
Illustrated Iliad (2023) 4 copies
The Story Of The Iliad (1924) 4 copies
Ilíada (vol. I): Cants I-IV (2005) 4 copies, 1 review
The Iliad, book 1 of 2 (1992) 4 copies
L'Odyssée (2011) 4 copies
Odisea (2016) 4 copies
Iliade et l'odyssée (l') (1991) 4 copies
L'Odyssée (2021) 4 copies
Guerre de troie (1989) 4 copies
Homer 3 copies
Ulysse et L'Odyssee (2007) 3 copies
Odissea 3 copies
Mitos clasificados 3 (2007) 3 copies
Obras completas de Homero (1955) 3 copies
Homers Werke 3 copies
Ilíada VOLUMEN II (1989) 3 copies
Cuentos al timón (2014) 3 copies
The Odyssey (0008) 3 copies
ILIADE T.2 (1937) 3 copies
L'Iliade. Introduction (1943) 3 copies
Stories from Homer (2009) 3 copies
The Iliad, book 2 of 2 (1992) 3 copies
L'odyssée (Les incontournables de la littérature en BD) (2010) — Auteur illustré — 3 copies
Odyssee. Wortkunde (2012) 3 copies
Iliada ; Odisea 2 copies
Grown In U.S.A. 2 copies
La Ilíada. Volúmen ll (1996) 2 copies
L'Odyssée. X à XXIV (1966) 2 copies
ILÍADA - ODISEA 2 copies, 1 review
Uit de Ilias 2 copies
Odissea. Libro 6. (1991) 2 copies
Iliadis I - XII 2 copies
ODISEA,LA - LA ESTACION (2014) 2 copies
Iliaden i udvalg (1997) 2 copies
Homeri Opera Tomus V (1912) 2 copies
Oddyssey The 2 copies
The Odyssey 2 copies
L'Odissea (1986) 2 copies
Iliadis Carmina 2 copies
ODISSEA canto IX (1969) 2 copies
Iliade XIX (1960) 2 copies
Odusszeia (1974) 2 copies
Odissea (2003) 2 copies
Iliad The 2 copies
Odesseia 2 copies
Odyssea 1740 2 copies
Iliade. Libro I 2 copies
La Iliàda 2 copies
ODISSEA I (2010) 2 copies
Iliade, chants I et VI (1967) 2 copies
Iliade Chants I a VI (1958) 2 copies
Les héros de l'Iliade (2009) 2 copies
L'Odyssée. Extraits (2000) 2 copies
The journeys of Odysseus (2005) 2 copies
Homerus 2 copies
Odisea 2 copies, 2 reviews
Odisea (Spanish Edition) (2010) 2 copies
Odyssevskvædet 2 copies
ILLIADA 2 copies
Odisea (2023) 2 copies, 1 review
In Cyclop's Cave (2002) 2 copies
Odysseia 2 copies
The Odyssey By Homer 1930 (1930) 2 copies
Odysseia XIII-XXIV (2011) 2 copies
Odysseia I-XII (2011) 2 copies
L'iliade Dessins (1986) 2 copies
Iliada, #1 2 copies
Odüsszeia 2 copies
Ilijada I Odiseja (1977) 2 copies
I poemi 1 copy
ILIADE VOLUME I (1952) 1 copy
Iliasz 1 copy
Dall'Odissea 1 copy
The Odyssey (1942) 1 copy
Der Froschmäusekrieg (1994) 1 copy
Iliade e Odissea (2012) 1 copy
Dall'Odissea : traduzioni — Author — 1 copy
Homerus De Odyssee (2019) 1 copy
Iliade. odysée. (1954) 1 copy
L'Odyssée: extraits (2011) 1 copy
Iliade: libro 6. (1987) 1 copy
Илиада 1 copy
L' Iliade di Omero (2004) 1 copy
Iliadis 1-12 1 copy
Odysseus 1 copy
De Odysséa 1 copy
Ilias 1 copy
Íliász 1-2 1 copy
ODISEU 1 copy
Homeri Opera 1 copy
Odissea. Libro 6º (1994) 1 copy
Análisis de La iliada (1991) 1 copy
A Ilídia 1 copy
EL TALON DE AQUILES (2017) 1 copy
Obras (1973) 1 copy
Ilíada Odisea (1997) 1 copy
A Ilíada 1 copy
Odisea (2023) 1 copy
L’odyssée 1 copy
LA ODISEA 1 copy
ODISEA Mirador (2014) 1 copy
L'Odyssée (2022) 1 copy
L'Odyssée (1982) 1 copy
La Odisea (2017) 1 copy
Ilíada: Cantos I y II (2011) 1 copy
ოდისეა 1 copy, 1 review
Odyssesy 1 copy
Odyssee 1 copy
The lliad 1 copy
Iliada, #1 1 copy, 1 review
The Illad 1 copy
La Odisea (1999) 1 copy
La iliada ; La odisea 1 copy, 1 review
A ODISSEIA 1 copy
La Odisea 1 copy
HIMNOS HOMÉRICOS (2013) 1 copy
La Ilíada (XXI) 1 copy, 1 review
LA ILLIADA 1 copy
Illíada 1 copy
The Odyssey1 1 copy
Odisseia 1 copy
L'Odyssée : Extraits (2003) 1 copy
The Odyssey 1 copy
Odyssee 1 copy
Ilíada v.3 1 copy
Illiade 1 copy
Odissea 1 copy
Odissea in prosa (2014) 1 copy
Odissea 1 copy
Omero minore 1 copy
Илiада 1 copy
O Disséia 1 copy
La Odisea; La Ilíada (2000) 1 copy
La Odisea (2022) 1 copy
Ilíada (Antología) (1962) 1 copy
L'Odyssée 1 copy
Iliada. Rapsodia 1 (1977) 1 copy
La Ilíada I 1 copy
ILIADA BOLSILLO (2000) 1 copy
Ιλιάδα (1995) 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
Homer's odyssey : book I 1 copy, 1 review
Odyssey 2ND EDITION (1974) 1 copy
Obras completas de Homero 1 copy, 1 review
HOMER: THE ODYSSEY (1997) 1 copy
Ulysses 1 copy
ILIADA LA Antares (2014) 1 copy
L'Odyssée d'Homère (2023) 1 copy
Odysey 1 copy
The Idyssey 1 copy
L'Odyssée (extraits) (2002) 1 copy
Les Textes fondateurs (2009) 1 copy
L'Odyssée (1993) 1 copy
L'iliade t. 2 (1960) 1 copy
L'Iliade et l'Odyssée (2010) 1 copy
La Odisea (2017) 1 copy
Striden vid Troja (1990) 1 copy
Odisseya 1 copy, 1 review
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
Voyage d'ulysse (1992) 1 copy
Ilíada I 1 copy
Sparknotes the Iliad (2002) 1 copy
The Epics (2022) 1 copy
Mutations (2023) 1 copy
Iliad [abridged] (2010) 1 copy
ILIADA I 1 copy
October Sky 1 copy
L'Odissea 1 copy
The Odissey 1 copy

Associated Works

Troy [2004 film] (2004) — Poem — 768 copies, 6 reviews
The Best Loved Poems of Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis (2001) — Contributor — 627 copies, 11 reviews
World Poetry: An Anthology of Verse from Antiquity to Our Time (1998) — Contributor — 499 copies, 2 reviews
The Rag and Bone Shop of the Heart: A Poetry Anthology (1992) — Contributor — 442 copies, 4 reviews
The Portable Greek Reader (1948) — Contributor, some editions — 433 copies
Memorial (2011) — Author — 387 copies, 11 reviews
Greek Lyric Poetry (1994) — Author — 321 copies, 2 reviews
The Penguin Book of Hell (2018) — Contributor — 276 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 — 188 copies, 3 reviews
100 Eternal Masterpieces of Literature, Volume 1 (2017) — Contributor — 176 copies
The Columbia Anthology of Gay Literature (1998) — Contributor — 172 copies
The Faber Book of Beasts (1997) — Contributor — 169 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 — 141 copies, 3 reviews
Heroic Fantasy Short Stories (Gothic Fantasy) (2017) — Contributor — 111 copies
The Norton Book of Friendship (1991) — Contributor — 104 copies
The Odyssey: A BabyLit Monsters Primer (2016) — Contributor — 91 copies
From the Tower Window (1921) — Contributor — 89 copies, 2 reviews
Pirates & Ghosts Short Stories (Gothic Fantasy) (2017) — Contributor — 82 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 — 65 copies
Stories from the Iliad and Odyssey (1962) 58 copies, 2 reviews
The Odyssey (2012) — Original work — 55 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 — 42 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 — 26 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 — 10 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
The Iliad: A BabyLit Greek Mythology Primer (2024) — Contributor — 6 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
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 best English translation of Iliad in Homer, the Trojan war, and pre-classical Greece (June 12)
The Iliad & The Odyssey, LE (12.viii.2025) in Folio Society Devotees (May 31)
Recommend a fine press edition of The Odyssey? in Fine Press Forum (April 27)
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

1,246 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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AP Lit (1)
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Awards

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Associated Authors

Alexander Pope Contributor, Translator
Andrew Lang Translator, Introduction
W.E.J. Kuiper Translator, Composer
T. A. Buckley Translator
Miguel Lalor Imbiriba Dessins, Couleurs
Rita Petruccioli Illustrator
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
Emily Wilson Translator
George Steiner 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
John Flaxman Illustrator
Dan Stevens Narrator
Bernard Knox Introduction
Augusts Ģiezens Translator
Sheila Murnaghan Introduction
Garry Wills Preface
C. Vosmaer Translator
Martin Clarentius Gertz Translator, Editor
Gail Belenson Cover designer
Kurts Fridrihsons Illustrator
Otto Steen Due Translator
Emily R. Wilson Translator
Erland Lagerlöf Translator
Jan Stolpe Editor
Hans Erni Illustrator
Edwin Linkomies Preface, Foreword
Gerhard Bendz Translator
Stanley Lombardo Translator
G. S. Kirk Introduction
Otto Manninen Translator
Wolfgang Schadewaldt Translator, Introduction
Carles Riba Translator
William Morris Translator
E. V. Rieu Translator
Richard Wilding Translator
W. H. D. Rouse Translator
Anton Christian Illustrator
Imme Dros Translator
Kotobuki Corporation Cover designer
Emil Antonucci Cover designer
Bertus Aafjes Translator
P.C. Boutens Translator
Ian McKellen Narrator
Claire Danes Narrator
Samuel Butler Translator
T. E. Lawrence Translator
Anthony Heald Narrator
Ingvar Björkeson öVersäTtare.
Allen Mandelbaum Translator
Fausto Codino Foreword
Norman Dietz Narrator
Arthur S. Way Translator
Leo Dillon Cover artist
Otto Gelsted Translator
Ben Shaw Afterword
Barry B. Powell Translator
Yuri Rasovsky Narrator
Robert Squillace Introduction
T. E. Shaw Translator
Barry Moser Illustrator
C H Rieu Editor
George E. Dimock Translator
José Manuel Pabón Editor literario
Philip Pascuzzo Cover designer
Diane Dillon Cover artist
Léon Belly Cover artist
C.J. Kelfkens Cover designer
Tom Holland Afterword
Stephen Mitchell Translator
Thomas Clark Translator
Antonietta Gostoli Contributor
José Alsina Clota Introduction
John Lescault Narrator
Raoul Schrott Translator
Leonard Baskin Illustrator
fernandezmatthieu Bibliographie
Vincenzo Monti Translator
Eugène Lasserre Translator
Thomas Parnell Contributor
E. V. Rieu Translator
Steele Savage Illustrator
Herbert J. Muller Contributor
Giovanni Cerri Translator
Patrick Lateur Translator
Martin Hammond Introduction
F. Melian Stawell Introduction
Derek Jacobi Narrator
Gábor Devecseri Translator
Ian C. Johnston Translator
William Broome Contributor
Alfred Molina Narrator
Ernest Myers Translator
Matt Avery Cover designer
Anton Lesser Narrator
Rolf Boysen Narrator
Gilbert Highet Introduction
M.A. Schwartz Translator
Diane J. Rayor Translator
Jules Cashford Translator
Sarah Ruden Translator
Jean Humbert Translator
Sheila Murnachan Introduction and Notes
Exekias Cover artist
Thelma Sargent Translator
Albert Cook Translator
Parris Wakefield Cover designer
T. Parnell Translator
Gilbert P. Rose Translator
Alberto Bernabé Pajares Editor literario
松平 千秋 Translator
呉 茂一 Translator
Wilhelm Dindorf Translator
Aemilius Portus Translator
William Cowper Translator
Gabriele Santini Illustrator
Anna Dacier Translator

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