"I long to be homeward bound" Simon and Garfunkle

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	• The Odyssey (Penguin Classics) Homer Penguin Classics, 2006 - 560 pages average customer review:based on 38 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Think about reading this again.

I recently read this new translation after reading James Joyce's Ulysses. It is not the tedious book I remember in high school. Perhaps it was my age and immaturity at the time, but I prefer to believe that that previous translation was more difficult to wade through. This translation, however, makes the Odyssey amazingly accessible. Without the barrier of language, one can perceive the beauty of the verse and the complexity of the story. It is easier to see both the heroism and the flaws of the central character, Odysseus. The reunions that occur at the end are truly touching. If you haven't read this in a while, and you weren't impressed the first time through, I highly recommend you try this translation.
As an aside, I find it odd that the Cliff's Notes for this epic has a higher rating than the epic itself.

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Uses for this Translation

this is an amazing book, with something for anyone. if you are interested in studying philosophy, you'll find it here. but, you can also read a great adventure story with fables and a love story written in. in that sense, this is a great translation; if you want to read this for the sake of entertainment, Fagles is a great translator. if you want to read for philosophical discussion, however, he might not serve your purposes. the thing you have to know about Fagles is, he often inserts adjectives and the feel of the entire story changes. so, if you want fidelity to the Greek words, try Lattimore. if you want fidelity to the Greek metrical sense, try Mandelbaum or Pope. and if you want fidelity to the Greek adventure epic, Fagles is your guy.

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"I long to be homeward bound" Simon and Garfunkle

The Trojan War is over and one of our hero kings is lost. His son (Telemachus) travels to find any information about his father's fait. His wife (Penelope) must cunningly hold off suitors that are eating them out of house and home.

If he ever makes it home Odysseus will have to detect those servants loyal from those who are not. One absent king against rows of suitors; how will he give them their just deserts? We look to Bright Eyed Pallas Athena to help prophecy come true.

Interestingly all the tales of monsters and gods on the sea voyage was told by Odysseus. Notice that no on else survives to tell the tale. So we have to rely on Odysseus' word.

Many movies took sections of The Odyssey, and expanded them to make interesting stories those selves.

Not just the story but the way in which it is told will keep you up late at night reading.

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People Don't Make Up Curses Like That Anymore...

My freshman English class tackled The Odyssey, and we all relished it. The high-key adventure, the indomitable Odysseus, the history and culture of our adored Greek society, and the rich dialogue all kept us hooked. The curse of the Cyclops is still a monologue I fall back on, even three years later, because, I'm telling you, people nowadays just don't know how to cast curses! As a little recommendation to enhance the reader's enjoyment, read a little bit about the Trojan War before starting. For my class, we had a packet with the history of the war, beginning with the Choice of Paris and ending with the Wooden Horse. It helps with the understanding of the story and whets the appetite for Homer's epic.

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reviews: 1, 2, page 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

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