The Odyssey (Signet Classics)

My children tell me this poem is not required reading in school any longer, but then it wasn't when I was in high school in the 1970's either. Western Civ was crammed into a semester. Understand who and what you are in an hour a day over a term. Yeah I am sure that is going to work out. But I got a drivers license and that at least identified my gender.Otherwise lost in this age I decided to go back to the beginning, and like our hero depart this never never land the nymph Calypso tells me I am in where all is beautiful and there is no mortality. Ulysses knows who he is and leaves, preferring humanity.In contrast we are unmoored from all we have been before. We have no epic mythology that tells us who we are. Instead we are informed by the cyclops television, desktop computer or smart phone. How reliable are the stories these things tell live by?What I learned from Ulysses was I had the power to sharpen a stick and poke these monsters in the eye. Then set sail for Ithaca.

One of Homer’s most well known narrative techniques is to have one of his characters tell a story within a story. An early version of metafiction, if you will.An example of this takes place in the Odyssey where the local royalty have gathered amid what was then considered finery. After dining at a banquet they first hear a bard and then Odysseus recite a lay. The reader is supposed to be almost vicariously present—in a corner of the royal hall enraptured by the telling of the myths and legends of Ancient Greece.As much as any translation can bring about such an effect, Robert Fagles does successfully teleport the reader back to Ithaca and its surrounds. We get to listen to the bard recounting the oft-told stories of the wanderings of Odysseus. The particular stylistic techniques which make this such a successful translation can be found in Fagles’s postscript but, even without a sophisticated appreciation, it is hard to think of an edition that captures the attention of readers more than this one.With the classics under increasing assault in modern day curricula due to lack of interest, having a translation that avoids archaism without sacrificing narrative power is almost a must. I am by no means the first to realize Fagles’s ingenuity. But hopefully enough people with similar opinions will prevail and young readers can be introduced to this classic of Western civilization in an edition that doesn’t bore them.Given the many entertainment options proliferating in the twenty-first century this is by no means an easy task. But I think Fagles has met it. Strong recommendation for those seeking a popular but still intelligent edition.

If you ever feel like you should read the Odyssey because it's a classic, or just want to know the story, do yourself a favor and don't. It simply isn't good reading. If there's a Cliffs notes or summary somewhere, read that instead. It drones on and on, mostly about how glorious and godlike Odysseus is. If you removed all of the descriptions from the many characters in the book, of how handsome and brilliant Odysseus is, you'd be left with something closer to a pamphlet.

This is one of the great works of literature. After reading this tale of hero's and gods (gods with a small "s") it is in all actually a very long and repetitive fairy tale with an undercurrent of violence , bloodshed and wild imagination. Seeing birds fly overhead or dreaming of birds is an indication of godly advice. Having close friends killed in a most horrific manner elicits only a moment of regrets and pain while tears stain every garment throughout the book. Penelope is constantly in tears, Ulysses cries about everything imaginable--then probably kills someone.The style of writing lends to the length of the story for every cloak, manner of weapon, goblet,cup and even a door key is described in meticulous detail while numerous recounting of tales,already told are retold in their entirety making the book much longer than was necessary. Neptune,Saturn,Mercury,all make cameo appearances as themselves with minor godly roles of Minerva and friends show up at just the right moment-not necessarily to save the day but just keep things interesting. In short---tis a silly thing.

I just completed a Continuing Studies course on The Odyssey at Stanford University conducted by the venerable Dr. Marsh McCall who actually made it a fun and fascinating class. During the class, we read from two of the most modern translations, this one from Lattmore as well as Robert Fagles' more recent translation. I found myself reading with both books open to the same chapter, comparing the language and meaning. Lattimore chose to retain the original verse count of the Ancient Greek text, which tended to cause some rather odd and strained English constructions at times. Though the meaning was similar and neither translation actually altered the overall content, It was surprising to realize how a subtle difference in word choice could alter the perception of a scene or dialogue. There are very few people in the world who can read Ancient Greek and even fewer who could translate such a sweeping epic poem, and Lattimore's work is surely an impressive accomplishment,I deducted one star mainly because the physical layout of the book makes it a bit of a chore to consume. The font is too small, there are no line breaks between paragraphs, e.g.no white space, and the page headers do not include the Book numbers.

This book comes in three main sections:1. Telemachus crying about his missing father; Penelope crying about her missing husband2. Odysseus telling stories, some of which are his famous adventures only very briefly told, others are simply long fibs to hide his identity3. Telemachus crying about his missing father; Penelope crying about her missing husband - who is then revealed to have returned!There are various references to characters and events from The Iliad, as well as a growing tension as Odysseus hides from - then plots - the killing of the suitors who are ruining his home. However, the most famous stories of Odysseus's travels are surprisingly brief.I choose the translation by Fagles because it appeared the most effective use of English while keeping faithful to the presentation of the original. It's made very clear from reading how this is a story performed as much as sung, with sections possibly performed as standalones - hence a lot of repetition of what has gone on before.As with The Iliad there are some nice insights into European Iron Age culture, but as a story it's difficult to enjoy as a reading experience because it was never written for that purpose.

Homer’s The Odyssey I see has been voted by a number of writers and critics as the top book to read as one of those that has shaped the world and thought. It is easy to see why, and also why this story has always been well regarded.In this Amazon Classics Edition Odysseus here is translated as Ulysses, and as there are a number of editions cross-posted on this site, and if you somehow do not know the tale, please remember this and bear it in mind. With The Iliad we read of the Trojan War, but here it is over and thus we read of Ulysses’ return home, which takes many years. Whilst he is away so his son is brought up seeing many men living off the wealth of the land and wooing his mother, Ulysses’ wife.With only two episodes recounted by another, the majority is thus what we are told by Ulysses himself, and thus we read of adventure and intrigue for our hapless hero. But the question always sits in the back of your mind – is this what really happened, or was Ulysses more likely having dalliances with other women? Because although his journey wasn’t too long across the sea, so he seems to travel everywhere thwarted by the gods, in his efforts to get home to his loving wife.So, although this is serious in structure and plotting, every time you read this you feel like this is a tall tale, and one that would have been told in the taverns of the day, by someone who was perhaps a little inebriated. So, if you want to read this as being what happened, or as a series of porkies, it doesn’t really matter, as it is still enjoyable; however, if you take it as the latter you may come up with ideas to explain to the missus why you have been a bit too long down the pub.Translated into most languages, and highly influential on others, creating adaptations and spin-off tales this is something that is always well worth reading.

Beautiful and very readable translation in modern English blank verse. This translation is very easy to understand and the rhythm and forward motion of the prose verse is very compelling. The story definitely comes alive in great detail. Highly recommended. This deluxe Penguin edition with deckle pages and French flaps is beautiful. Highly recommended. Voted one of the "Best Books of 1969" by Time magazine.

I first read The Odyssey about 60 years ago when a new translation by E. V. Rieu was much publicised and available from Penguin. As a teenager I enjoyed it very much as an adventure story, about which I had heard. I have quite a few books and was confident that my copy was 'somewhere' when I recommended the Odyssey to a readers group to which I belong; it was accepted and added to the list and came up this last month. I could not find my copy; the library could not obtain a 'Rieu' copy, in time, so I visited my friendly Amazon website. I found the Rieu was still available but, in addition to the original, a later version is available that has been slightly revised by the son of E.V.; I ordered and have read it again. Although I read with a lifetime of experience behind me I really enjoyed it once again. This time, however, I have both the introduction by E V from 1946 and a DCHR Preface of 2002, which begins with'My Father E. V. ...' in which the son, DCHR, later refers to his father as EVR. It is obvious that both Father and Son love and respect Homer.Read the story and then the DCHR Preface followed by the PVJ Introduction with His analysis of the construction of the 'plot' and why it is arranged in the way that it is.Finally, I learned that the EVR translation gave us the very first book in the Penguin Classics series. A Really Fine package; you will be glad to own and treasure it. Just do not mislay it, you never know ...!

This translation was first published in 1967. Every generation needs a new translation. I thought so until I read this version. It is a magnificent, lucid, and emotional translation. It is notoriously difficult-if not nigh impossible- to try and retain the verse, metre and integrity of a Greek original. Many turn it into prose and be done with it. Lattimore has attempted to stay as close to the original as is possible without mangling the clarity of the original and the English.It is written with a clear english without colloquialisms creeping in that distract from it. Epic in nature it really does seem to bring it all to life - and yes I would say its a page turner! it is one of my favourites. Since it was first published, research has advanced a pace and there are some mis-translations. Few but not in any way detracts are alters the major thrust of the storyline.Buy it with Peter Jones' commentary and it will set you up with many hours of interesting and involved study. Thoroughly reccommended.