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jollyqban03's review against another edition
1.0
I had to read this in high school and it was horrible. I hated every minute of it.
felifirefly's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
tennnnny's review against another edition
5.0
absolutely amazing!! i've read multiple translations of the odyssey (& some of it in the original ancient greek) and i love love love this translation by emily wilson.
the way she approached her translation is, in my opinion, genius. in its original form, the odyssey is written in dactylic hexameter, the meter of ancient greek/roman epic poetry. she made the choice to write her translation in the traditional english meter, iambic pentameter. she also made her translation the same number of lines as the original, unlike other translators, whose translations often end up longer. the fact that she managed to come out with such an amazing translation that fits within these constraints is an amazing feat.
wilson also moves away from many of the... additions?? made by other translators (ie. referring to women as sluts when the greek has nothing of the sort). she keeps it real by not sugarcoating many of the realities, including that the "house girls" were enslaved. the greeks knew this, but prior translations have skirted around the issues of slavery and colonization. don't get me wrong, she does not add anything that is not in the original text, but her word choice is very intentional -- and it has to be! did i mention she kept it the same number of lines as the original, and wrote it in iambic pentameter?!?!
i've heard people call this a "feminist" translation of the odyssey, and i find that to be rather reductive. sure, she is the first woman to publish an english translation of the odyssey. yes, she isn't calling women sluts when the ancient greek does not call for it. her translation definitely has more of a sense of social/societal awareness. but just to call this a feminist translation? ok, maybe she is a feminist, and maybe this translation is popular among feminists (myself included), but above all this is a good translation of the odyssey. i would argue that it is a stellar translation. honestly, i think viewing this translation as just a feminist translation is... anti-feminist? idk idk.
i listened to this as an audiobook, narrated by claire danes. i cannot recommend it enough. i think an audiobook is the perfect medium for homeric epic because that's how it was originally "written" and shared! we don't even know if homer was a real guy!
danes really brought this epic to life. sing to me, oh muse, of the many-minded man... and she really sang (not literally)! i know she's performed some shakespeare before, and her background (and possibly just talent?) allowed her to recite this poem in a perfect rhythm. i felt the meter, but it wasn't too much. it didn't sound like she was trying super hard and over-annunciating certain syllables just to make sure she kept the meter, which i'm sure many of us struggled with in high school english class. her performance was spectacular. it felt natural, like the muse was weaving a tale for me to listen to. i really think it would be tough to find a better narrator for this.
10/10, highly recommend, my favorite translation of the odyssey!!!
the way she approached her translation is, in my opinion, genius. in its original form, the odyssey is written in dactylic hexameter, the meter of ancient greek/roman epic poetry. she made the choice to write her translation in the traditional english meter, iambic pentameter. she also made her translation the same number of lines as the original, unlike other translators, whose translations often end up longer. the fact that she managed to come out with such an amazing translation that fits within these constraints is an amazing feat.
wilson also moves away from many of the... additions?? made by other translators (ie. referring to women as sluts when the greek has nothing of the sort). she keeps it real by not sugarcoating many of the realities, including that the "house girls" were enslaved. the greeks knew this, but prior translations have skirted around the issues of slavery and colonization. don't get me wrong, she does not add anything that is not in the original text, but her word choice is very intentional -- and it has to be! did i mention she kept it the same number of lines as the original, and wrote it in iambic pentameter?!?!
i've heard people call this a "feminist" translation of the odyssey, and i find that to be rather reductive. sure, she is the first woman to publish an english translation of the odyssey. yes, she isn't calling women sluts when the ancient greek does not call for it. her translation definitely has more of a sense of social/societal awareness. but just to call this a feminist translation? ok, maybe she is a feminist, and maybe this translation is popular among feminists (myself included), but above all this is a good translation of the odyssey. i would argue that it is a stellar translation. honestly, i think viewing this translation as just a feminist translation is... anti-feminist? idk idk.
i listened to this as an audiobook, narrated by claire danes. i cannot recommend it enough. i think an audiobook is the perfect medium for homeric epic because that's how it was originally "written" and shared! we don't even know if homer was a real guy!
danes really brought this epic to life. sing to me, oh muse, of the many-minded man... and she really sang (not literally)! i know she's performed some shakespeare before, and her background (and possibly just talent?) allowed her to recite this poem in a perfect rhythm. i felt the meter, but it wasn't too much. it didn't sound like she was trying super hard and over-annunciating certain syllables just to make sure she kept the meter, which i'm sure many of us struggled with in high school english class. her performance was spectacular. it felt natural, like the muse was weaving a tale for me to listen to. i really think it would be tough to find a better narrator for this.
10/10, highly recommend, my favorite translation of the odyssey!!!
scottcurtis10's review against another edition
5.0
Great translation, wonderful introduction. Well worth reading even if you are familiar with The Odyssey!