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Summary: Homer Set the Stage
Review: Homer's Odyssey set the stage for just about everything that was ever written after it. Other works copy its themes, devices, constructs and more. The construction of fiction, whether it be epic fiction or even the postmodern novel, has it roots in Homer.The Odyssey is a written collection of oral stories about a man named Odysseus. Classicists will argue regarding the authenticity of The Odyssey as compared to The Iliad because The Odyssey lacks a continuous "style." Of course, the style is not continuous. This is a collection of stories, not a single story as is The Iliad. The style quite rightly reflects the style of those who first related the stories, so each should seem slightly different in tone, depending on who the original storyteller was. The Odyssey is a book that truly has everything: the wrath of the gods, war, revenge, love, lust, intrigue and homecoming. I can't think of anyone who couldn't find something in The Odyssey to like and to relate to. There are many, many translations of The Odyssey available and not just any one will do it justice. I would really recommend a strict translation of the original work. The language will be a little sticky at times, but will be far fuller in meaning than a "looser" translation. Fitzgerald's translation is a good one and the one most found in modern bookstores. For those intrepid enough to do a little hunting, though, the translation by T.E. Shaw is excellent and a very good read as well. Shaw's is a strict translation in all ways but one; it is a prose translation and does not stick dogmatically to the iambic hexameter of the original. Ironically, in Shaw's translation, the cadence is preserved but the read is quite smooth. Anyone lucky enough to find a Shaw translation should grab it immediately. If you don't want it yourself, you no doubt know someone who would.
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Summary: Not as difficult as many think
Review: Just because it's by some guy named Homer and it's "classic" doesn't mean it's unreadable. Quite to the contrary, the Odyssey is one of the most readable ancient works around because so many of the stories (the Cyclops, Scylla and Charbydis, Circe, Penelope) have become part of the very fabric of our Western culture. Even Eric Clapton sings of Homer in "Tales of Brave Ulysses" in the old song by Cream! There's an allusion for you. Surprisingly, most of my honors 9th grade students adored the Odyssey and found it easy going. The Iliad is harder because it's more of a war book, while the Odyssey is much more of an adventure poem. You won't find the same technical level of poetry in the Odyssey (few of the those great epic similies) as you do in the Iliad, but it is the much more accessible work of the two. Great background reading for both kids and adults is the D'Aulair's Greek Mythology which is written for kids, but helpful for adults as well. I do like Fitzgerald's translation, but I"m still partial to the Lattimore for its proximity to the Greek. Most readers will find Fitzgerald easier, but once you've enjoyed it, give the Lattimore a try -- it's the closest you can come to hearing the poem in Greek.
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Summary: Not loved
Review: I was forced into reading this book, so I didn't enjoy it as much as I was supposed to, which of course is my fault. My evil Lit-Comp teacher had me hating it from page one, so thus if I read it on my own I would've seen it in a better light and not be forced to write a 3 page report on what I thought of it. Thank you.
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Summary: Wow
Review: I am in the 9th grade and just finished reading this book for English. I must say I was pesimistic at first as I'm usually a very picky reader. This book, though, has made me much more open to new types of literature. I really loved it and recommend it without reservation to anyone who likes reading. Also, this is the best tranlation I've come across.
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Summary: Always on my desk
Review: The Odyssey stands out as among the first works of ancient art that are immediately accessible to the modern mind. It is for that reason alone that it is worth reading. For the 7th, 8th or 9th Century B.C. poet(s?) today known as Homer can be seen to be standing at the very threshold of man's awakening to the fact that he is an independent actor in the world and no longer the chattel of despotic god-like rulers nor entirely without recourse when confronting the whims of omnipotent gods. It was that spirit, after all, that led to the most amazing moment in the history of Western man, at least: the brief flourishing of ancient Classical Greece. To my mind, more than another other work of ancient art, save for perhaps the bust of a minor Egyptian official in Boston's Museum of Fine Art that dates from almost 5,000 years ago, which is so contemporary as to be breathtaking, the Odyssey enables you to see man standing there, taking that first step towards modernity, with all its wonders and horrors. Fitzgerald's translation, which dates from the mid-1960s, brings the sweep of that epic poem to life. What's more, he also has the ear of a poet, and manages from time to time to capture in modern English -- an extraordinarily difficult task -- the onomatopoeic gift of the ancient Greek, one example being his "tumbling, clamorous, whispering sea," so evocative of the ocean shore break. This is one of my three all-time favorite books, and my copy is so dog-eared that I don't have to tell people who see it on my desk that I've read it and re-read it countless times.
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Summary: Fitzgerald is Homer's greatest emissary
Review: Robert Fitzgerald's translations are among my favorites. While it is virtually impossible to translate Dactylic Hexameter into English, Fitzgerald still captures much of the power and majesty of Homer in his translation. Now, it is conceded that the Odyssey is technically inferior to the Iliad. It is for this reason that the majority of Homeric scholars believe he wrote the Odyssey first, THEN the Iliad. In any case, the Odyssey is still an awesome piece of literature and has enjoyed an enormous influence over all of western thought for close to 3,000 years. It is dubious to believe too many of today's poets / authors will still be remembered 2,500+ years from now. As always with classic literature, I would admonish anyone interested in reading the Odyssey to first consult everything that has gone before, such as the Judgment of paris & the Iliad, etc. The tale will make SO MUCH more sense that way. As one can see by the negative reviews to this work, Homer is not for those who are only interested in instant gratification. If you cannot get interested in a book which may take you a month to read & a lifetime to truly understand, Homer is not for you. On the other hand, if you're really intrigued by Greek mythology, history or literature, this book is an ABSOLUTE must. It is one of the great cornerstones of all western literature. I am quite certain that people will still be reading Homer 3,000 years from now.
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Summary: great for younger people too!
Review: This book is even great for younger people! I found it very interesting and i couldn't put it down! If you like stories about gods,goddesses and heroes, this is the book to get!
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Summary: A classic
Review: When I first started reading the Odyssey, I did not get it. I didn't understand the language and literature and was confused. But as I got into the book, I found myself captivated by the story of Odysseus and his return home.
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Summary: Review of a Classic
Review: The Oddyssey is a classic epic story of Oddyseus' journey home from Troy. Combining mythological stories, historical facts, and fantasy, this book is surely one of the best I've read.
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Summary: A fantastic translation of Homer's Odyssey!
Review: I find this to be a very true and interesting translation. Fitzgerald certainly would make Homer (if he ever existed!) proud. My strongest encouragement to read this epic poem (novel!)
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