Composed at the rosy-fingered dawn of world literature almost three millennia ago, “The Odyssey” is a poem about violence and the aftermath of war; about wealth, poverty, and power; about marriage and family; about travelers, hospitality, and the yearning for home. It’s a poem about the sea. This fresh, authoritative translation captures the beauty of this ancient poem as well as the drama of its narrative. Emily Wilson’s “Odyssey” sings with a voice that echoes Homer’s music; matching the number of lines in the Greek original, the poem sails along at Homer’s swift, smooth pace.

“We reached the sea and first of all we launched / the ship into the sparkling salty water”

Homer “The Odyssey”. English translation by Emily Wilson. Published by Norton Paperbacks in 2018. Bought by the Sea Library 💙

Photos by Anna Iltnere / Sea Library