Revisiting Homer's Odyssey

Back in the 1990s I became slightly obsessed with ancient Greek literature and purchased beautifully bound copies of The Odyssey and The Iliad translated by Robert Fagles. I read these epic poems with their tales of triumph and tragedy in war. Both works have been foundational to my interest in art and drama, and have enhanced my reading of modern literature. 

More recently I have been interested in feminist retellings of these ancient tales, with authors centring women's voices that were sidelined in the original. From Madeline Miller's Circe (2018) and Song of Achilles (2011), to Pat Baker's Women of Troy trilogy (2018-2024), alongside works by Jennifer Saint, Natalie Haynes, Costanza Casati Margaret Atwood and countless others, these works have reignited my interest in the stories. 

With Christopher Nolan's epic film of The Odyssey due for release in July 2026, I thought it might be worth reacquainting myself with the original. For this re-read, I chose the 2017 version translated by Emily Wilson, to read alongside the audiobook performed by Claire Danes.

The story is well known. Odysseus, King of Ithaca, has been gone for over a decade off to fight in the Trojan War. Back home, his wife Penelope is hounded by suitors and her son Telemachus is frustrated by not knowing what has become of his beloved father. The Goddess Athena encourages Telemachus to leave Ithaca in search of information about his father. He travels to meet with Nestor and then Menelaus, who share information about Odysseus voyage home. 

As Odysseus and his crew sailed home from Troy, he faced many perils. His craft was destroyed in a storm sent by Poseidon, he battled a cyclops, he became enthralled by Circe, his sailors were lured by the Sirens, he then had to battle the monster Scylla, before being captured by the nymph Calypso. When he eventually makes it back home, he performs a series of tests to prove his identity and has to vanquish the suitors who have come to take his place. 

As I read the Wilson translation I occasionally got out my Fagles translation to compare the two versions. While I enjoyed the Fagles when I initially read it, my sense is that the Wilson translation is more accessible for modern readers. 

This is such a great story and I am so pleased to have re-read it. I still have a stack of retellings to enjoy and re-reading Homer will make them more meaningful. I am also keen to re-read The Iliad to refresh my memory.