The Odyssey - Softcover

Homer

Softcover

ISBN 10: 194017726X ISBN 13: 9781940177267

Publisher: Blackrock Classics, 2013

Synopsis

Fully Annotated Edition. The Odyssey is one of two epic stories attributed to Homer. It centers on Greek hero Odysseus' journey home after the ten-year Trojan War. The adventures of his voyage include tales of love, war, and sensual bliss. Along the way, he must survive a shipwreck, the lure of the enchanting Sirens, the clutches of a Cyclops, and a battle with a group of devious suitors after his wife, Penelope.

About this title

Review

With the Trojan war finally over after many long years, Odysseus wants nothing more than a swift journey home where his throne and beloved wife, Penelope, await him. But Poseidon, the sea god, bears a grudge against him and plans to prevent his return across the wine-dark sea to Ithaca. Many tests of strength and character ensue as Odysseus's journey stretches out over the years, taking in a multitude of strange and wonderful places and creatures. That's the basic plot of the epic poem Homer told nearly 3,000 years ago, but, even now, a new English translation is a true literary event. The ancient story is told in easy-going, beautiful poetry, the characters speak naturally and the action moves along briskly. Even the gods come across as real people, despite the divine powers they constantly exercise. The Odyssey really is a gripping, fast-moving read.

Review

"A masterpiece . . . An "Odyssey worthy of the original."--William Arrowsmith, "The Nation
"Here there is no anxious straining after mighty effects, but rather a constant readiness for what the occasion demands, a kind of Odyssean adequacy to the task in hand."--Seamus Heaney
"A masterpiece . . . An "Odyssey" worthy of the original."--William Arrowsmith, "The Nation""Here there is no anxious straining after mighty effects, but rather a constant readiness for what the occasion demands, a kind of Odyssean adequacy to the task in hand."--Seamus Heaney

Edition details

• Publisher: Blackrock Classics
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 194017726X
• ISBN 13: 9781940177267
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 422