The Odyssey

The better epic tale in Homer's collection. This one provides a more intimate personal portrait than does the Iliad. I found the Iliad to be more of an Ancient Historical epic that detailed the happenings of the Trojan War, whereas this one focused more solely on the personal story of Odysseus. Although the account is obviously fabricated with what one might call "fairy tale" stories, this adds...more

The better epic tale in Homer's collection. This one provides a more intimate personal portrait than does the Iliad. I found the Iliad to be more of an Ancient Historical epic that detailed the happenings of the Trojan War, whereas this one focused more solely on the personal story of Odysseus. Although the account is obviously fabricated with what one might call "fairy tale" stories, this adds to it's appeal. These were the fairy tales of the Ancient Greeks!   hide

Boring zzzzzzzzz

If you ever liked to learn about Greek philosophies and goods, I can just recommend this book. Its about the poor Odyssey on his way back from Troy. He got into trouble with Poseidon and he will delay him quiet a long time. Back at his beloved Ithaca some guys make trouble but as soon dawn comes up fresh and rosy fingered (I loved this) he will pay them back with the help of a goddess. I...more

If you ever liked to learn about Greek philosophies and goods, I can just recommend this book. Its about the poor Odyssey on his way back from Troy. He got into trouble with Poseidon and he will delay him quiet a long time. Back at his beloved Ithaca some guys make trouble but as soon dawn comes up fresh and rosy fingered (I loved this) he will pay them back with the help of a goddess. I learned a lot about Greek god´s.   hide

This book is another wonderful epic poem crafted by the great Homer. This one outlines Odysseus' troubles getting back to Greece after fighting in the Trojan War. This is a purely exciting adventure story that has captivated generations. Odysseus has become a folk hero in modern literature. It is also a love story that is extremely touching in it's scope. We meet some truly wonderful and...more

This book is another wonderful epic poem crafted by the great Homer. This one outlines Odysseus' troubles getting back to Greece after fighting in the Trojan War. This is a purely exciting adventure story that has captivated generations. Odysseus has become a folk hero in modern literature. It is also a love story that is extremely touching in it's scope. We meet some truly wonderful and horrific characters in this story. Who can forget the one-eyed Cyclops race? The most chilling section for me was when Ulysses descends into hell when he reaches the land of the Cimmerians. This is a grand adventure tale that is truly unforgettable.   hide

I had read a synopsis of the adventures of Odysseus in high school, but it was nice to read the entire epic poem to get the full story. Odysseus is an intelligent, cunning hero and you are really rooting for him by the time he finally makes it home from his long journey and is ready to take action against the usurpers of his household. So many stories of this time period end in tragedy, it's nice...more

I had read a synopsis of the adventures of Odysseus in high school, but it was nice to read the entire epic poem to get the full story. Odysseus is an intelligent, cunning hero and you are really rooting for him by the time he finally makes it home from his long journey and is ready to take action against the usurpers of his household. So many stories of this time period end in tragedy, it's nice that there is a satisfactory end to Odysseus's story after so many years of pain and heartache for him and his family. I enjoyed The Odyssey more than The Iliad because it seems a more intimate story overall. We really come to know the man Odysseus, his son Telemachus and wife, Penelope through their thoughts and interactions with others. The Iliad takes place during the Trojan war and focuses on the Greek and Trojan warriors and what takes place on the battlefield. The Odyssey is not quite a continuation of the Iliad, but takes place 10 years after the end of the Trojan war from which the great warrior Odysseus never returned. It seems he had some trouble on the high seas and on various islands along the way and has been unable to make it home. In the meantime, his home has been invaded by suitors who think he is dead and want to marry Penelope. Telemachus is not strong or powerful enough to throw them out and goes on a journey to find news of his father. With the help of the gods, Odysseus and Telemachus are finally able to defend their home. I would recommend reading both The Iliad and Odyssey together but if you're only going to pick up one, read The Odyssey.   hide

If ever there is an epic story to wallow in of heroes, villians, singing sirens, monster cyclops, ethereal immortal gods watching over our small irrelavant mortal existences, heroic battles, and vain goddesses, then, this has to be the ultimate read! Though it is very patriachal in nature it is still one amazing story of Odysseus who is lost at sea after trying to return home from the battle at...more

If ever there is an epic story to wallow in of heroes, villians, singing sirens, monster cyclops, ethereal immortal gods watching over our small irrelavant mortal existences, heroic battles, and vain goddesses, then, this has to be the ultimate read! Though it is very patriachal in nature it is still one amazing story of Odysseus who is lost at sea after trying to return home from the battle at Troy - He falls upon an amazing 20 year adventure, while his ever faithful wife, Penelope waits for his return along with their son, Telemachus. Considering it still packs a punch for a story that is thousands of years old, its breath taking!   hide

It's a grand tale of the ancient world - significant because so much of it is an allergory of our modern day world too!My own take is that it is a farce on the etiquette of being a good host. From the outset the story is beset by appaling guests who loll around the king's house scoffing all his food and insulting his wife. Later it moves on to other more sophisticated or experiends hosts...more

It's a grand tale of the ancient world - significant because so much of it is an allergory of our modern day world too!My own take is that it is a farce on the etiquette of being a good host. From the outset the story is beset by appaling guests who loll around the king's house scoffing all his food and insulting his wife. Later it moves on to other more sophisticated or experiends hosts - Nestor in his palace at Pylos - who does it right.Then we learn other horrors of being an adventurer. You seldom get treated well - turned to swine, crushed by rocks, seduced by lotus-eaters and maidens, and finally the never never - turn up on the princess's doorstep stark naked!Great stuff - don't miss it! It may be another 2800 years before there is a better read.   hide

Fagles' verse translation is fantastic. It rollicks along boisterously, mainly in blank hexameters, sometimes shrinking to smaller lines for more domestic scenes, tugging the reader along with the ebb and surge of the oceans that throw Odysseus to and fro. A verse translation, compared to prose, is so much more dynamic. Here, for example, is T.E.Lawrence's prose toward the end of Book 5:...more

Fagles' verse translation is fantastic. It rollicks along boisterously, mainly in blank hexameters, sometimes shrinking to smaller lines for more domestic scenes, tugging the reader along with the ebb and surge of the oceans that throw Odysseus to and fro. A verse translation, compared to prose, is so much more dynamic. Here, for example, is T.E.Lawrence's prose toward the end of Book 5: "Exactly as when a squid is dragged out from its bed the many pebbles come away in the suckers of its arms, so did the skin peel off Odysseus' strong hands against the stones. Then the billows closed over his head." Where Lawrence ends the paragraph there, Fagles elides the passage into the next event, imitating the breathlessness of Odysseus in his battle against the sea: "Like pebbles stuck in the suckers of some octopus dragged from its lair - so strips of skin torn from his clawing hands stuck to the rock face. A heavy sea covered him over, then and there unlucky Odysseus would have met his fate..." With the 'clawing hands' and 'heavy sea', Fagles can make the plight of Odysseus more graphically desperate.   hide

tough read but a good book