About this title: Perhaps the most celebrated of all Western narratives, the Odyssey tells the story of Odysseus's roundabout voyage home to Ithaca where his beloved Penelope awaits. In stories along the way, he famously encounters Circe, the Sirens, the Cyclops, and many, many others. This translation renders the classic more economically than others.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Books, New York
Date Published: 1979
ISBN-13:9780140440010ISBN:0140440011
Description: Good. No Jacket. 12mo-over 6¾"-7¾" tall. The book is very solid with lightly browned pages. The cover has moderate shelf & edge wear, heavier at the corners and spine. read more
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Books, Baltimore, Maryland
Date Published: 1966
Description: Fair. No Jacket. 12mo-over 6¾"-7¾" tall. The book is very solid with underlining and margin marks. Two words are written on the first end paper. The cover has moderate shelf & edge wear, heavier at the corners and spine. The front corners are feathered. The spine has several creases. read more
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Mentor Books, New York
Description: Fair. No Jacket. 12mo-over 6¾"-7¾" tall. No publication date given. The book is solid with browned pages. Previous owner's name on inside front cover & first end paper. The first few pages are feathered. The cover has moderate shelf & edge wear with creases at the corners. read more
Binding: Trade Paperback
Publisher: Viking Penguin, New York, New York, U.S.A.
Date Published: 1950
ISBN-13:9780140440010ISBN:0140440011
Description: Good. 12mo-over 6¾"-7¾" tall. Pages tanning. Light spine creasing & a bit of edgewear to cover. Price sticker inside cover. SUMMARY: Penguin classic edition translated by E.V. Rieu. The great epic poem about the adventures of Odysseus during his return from the Trojanm War and the drama of his homecoming. read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Mentor, United States of America
Date Published: 1960
Description: Fair. No Jacket. Textbook. 12mo-over 6¾"-7¾" tall. Trade paperback can be used as a Textbook. Free of underlining, margin notes. read more
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Group USA, E Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S.A.
Date Published: 1992
ISBN-13:9780140440010ISBN:0140440011
"Just read it for English 1 over the summer, and overall it was a good book. It was a little too long for me, but it was full of information on Greek mythology."
"The Odyssey is, well, the Odyssey. Beyond being a tremendously exciting read, it is a foundational work in Western literature.
It is a glorious story of love and war, gods and humans, adventure in and around the Mediterranean (and, some argue, out to the West Indies). On the surface simply the story of Odysseus's adventures after the fall of Troy, it is a rich tapestry of places, characters, and creatures which have entered into the basic language of Western literature.
For academic study of the Odyssey, Lattimore's translation is the preferred text, in part because it remains closest to the Greek text. And Lattimore's is a fine translation. But I find Fitzgerald's translation more alive, more exciting, more compelling. It is modern without being overly glib, a fault I find Fagles and Lombardo sometimes falling into.
For serious teaching and study, I stick with Lattimore. But for reading pleasure -- I have read the Odyssey perhaps a dozen times in at least a half-dozen translations, and still find it has riches I never previously noticed -- I turn by preference to Fitzgerald.
If you haven't read this Odyssey, do so. Definitely do so. What else can I say?"
"This is a marvelous poem. Everyone knows that. It has survived centuries - milennia. Now, thanks to Robert Fagles's brilliant and vivid translation, no reader should ever feel overwhelmed or literarily (word?) excluded by the Odyssey. While reading it, I learned that a) Greek men weep constantly, b) Greek hospitality is awesome and one receives many presents, c) Odysseus and Penelope's son Telemachus is pretty constantly an ass to his mother.
As the story winds down and Odysseus returns to Penelope, revenges himself upon her suitors, and reveals himself, Penelope surprises us by not embracing him as he expects, but is cold, reserved and unconvinced. When Odysseus reminds her of their unusual bed, Penelope is finally convinced that he is her husband. This bed is a rooted tree that grew through the floor of their room, Odysseus having hewed it into a bed for their marriage. This tree, the living cradle of an enduring and much tested love, is one of the most beautiful metaphors of marriage I have ever encountered through literature."
"I really shouldn't like The Odyssey. Sure, it's a classic, and sure, it's one of the earliest works of Western literature (to the extent of my admittedly flimsy knowledge). Homer tells instead of shows, he repeats phrases and in one case, an entire part of the story (the repetition is understandable, given its history). However, the brilliance of the writing and the story surmount all of its problems.
The translation is probably what helped me through. I've read the reviews for a few of the other versions of The Odyssey, and apparently the translations, footnotes and the author's theories drove people mad. However, this version of The Odyssey is translated perfectly, making it easy to read. The authors footnotes and Introduction give as much information as needed, and are helpful to any reader. Judging by other reviews, this is the version that I recommend to anyone who enjoys reading.
The story itself, of course, is brilliant. It is a true epic, and the non-linear narration only serves to enhance the experience. Thinking back, the way Homer has told the story is genius indeed, as it lends greater emotional impact and keeps relevant events fresh in the readers mind. Odysseus' journey to his homeland of Ithaca after twenty years at war and sea is a fascinating one, the sort I wish people still thought of. I'm not a big fan of fantasy tales, with monsters such as Scylla and Charybodis lurking among the pages, but The Odyssey caught and held my attention. Despite how long ago it was written, it has an innovative and interesting non-linear format.
That's all I'll say about The Odyssey, as I'm afraid that I could ramble for hours. Lately, I'm finding that the books with flaws are the ones that are the most endearing to me. Despite its minor flaws, The Odyssey will probably remain one of my favourite books for a long time. It was a worthy book to begin 2009."
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