Lytham St Annes CA

Written by Lorna Lee @unexpectedlearningjourney

With Christopher Nolan’s film adaption of The Odyssey almost upon us, here is a selection of excellent books to further explore the story, characters, historical background and reception of the epic poem that inspired it.

The Homeric Odyssey –

From the accessible prose of E. V. Rieu and modernised iambic pentameter of Emily Wilson, to Daniel Mendelsohn and Anthony Verity’s more faithful renderings and Ian McKellen’s spellbinding audiobook narration of Robert Fagles’ verse, there are a range of wonderful translations and formats out there for you to dive into the original epic poem.

Odyssey by Stephen Fry –

Bringing his epic Greek Mythology series to a close, Fry recounts Odysseus’s ten-year voyage home from Troy (alongside the exploits of other returning Achaeans and Trojan refugees) through his characteristic wit and enthusiasm, attention to detail and meticulous research.

You Are Odysseus by Laura Jenkinson-Brown –

Incorporating a seemingly limitless number of intricately researched paths, this interactive ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ retelling launches the reader on their own voyage, offering a very enjoyable and accessible way to engage with The Odyssey and wider tradition.

The storyline that follows The Odyssey plot is also available free in audiobook format on most podcasting platforms!

Circe by Madeline Miller –

Did not want to leave Circe behind when Odysseus sailed away? Madeline Miller has us covered, weaving the fragments of Circe’s myth and her own vision into an imaginative, emotive and mesmerising tale that stayed with me long after turning the final page.

Ithaca, House of Odysseus and The Last Song of Penelope by Claire North –

Through Claire North’s captivating prose, Hera (Ithaca), Aphrodite (House of Odysseus) and Athena (The Last Song of Penelope) step forwards to give their take on how Penelope’s story unfolded during Odysseus’s twenty-year absence.

The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood –

Now in the underworld, Atwood’s Penelope crackles off the page as she wrestles back the narrative in a blend of literary styles, accompanied by the chorus of hanged maids, to give us a fierce and thought-provoking perspective on a story we think we know.

Sweetbitter Song by Rosie Hewlett –

A sapphic reimagining of Melantho’s (one of the hanged maids) life and relationship with Penelope that offers an alternative yet utterly compelling take on what we are told in The Odyssey. Not to mention a fantastic exploration of the lives of enslaved people in Homer’s Bronze Age.

The Odyssey Colouring Book by Caroline Lawrence –

Incorporating a range of beautiful images to colour in, each accompanied by a relevant haiku, Lawrence gives us a wonderfully fun and creative way to engage with a selection of scenes, themes and characters in Homer’s epic.

Crossing the Wine Dark Sea by Emily Wilson –

Offering insights into a range of translations, including her own, Emily Wilson examines key ideas surrounding the interpretation and translation of The Odyssey (among other ancient texts): how their meanings and messages shift, how some translators approach bridging the gaps between language and culture, and how this conversation can help us to navigate and reimagine our own.

The Odyssey Effect by Erica Stevenson –

Through her passionate, always accessible voice, Stevenson guides us through the fascinating lasting influence of Homer’s epic, how audiences have responded to it from composition to the present day and what those responses reveal about the societies that generated them.

To find out more, check out my interview with Erica in the latest edition of Agora magazine! You can also find lots of extra Odyssey content on Erica’s YouTube channel MoAn Inc, including a book-by-book summary and deeper explorations of characters and receptions.

The Epic Women of Homer by Eirene Allen –

Accompanied by the author’s own translations, this is an incredibly insightful and thought-provoking re-evaluation of the role and significance of female voices in Homeric poetry, including Penelope, Athena and more.

Mythica by Emily Hauser –

Incorporating a range of ancient evidence from the original texts, to archaeological finds and DNA studies, Hauser takes us on a fascinating journey through the lives and experiences of real women – queens, mothers, warriors, slaves – behind the figures we encounter in epic.

©LornaLee