The Odyssey of Homer (P.S.) [Paperback] Richmond Lattimore

by Homer, Richmond Lattimore (Translator)

ISBN: 9780061244186

Genres: Classics, Mythology, Poetry, Read For School

Paperback

About the author

Homer (Greek: Όμηρος born c. 8th century BC) was a Greek poet who is credited as the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, two epic poems that are foundational works of ancient Greek literature. Homer is considered one of the most revered and influential authors in history.
Homer's Iliad centers on a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles during the last year of the Trojan War. The Odyssey chronicles the ten-year journey of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, back to his home after the fall of Troy. The poems are in Homeric Greek, also known as Epic Greek, a literary language which shows a mixture of features of the Ionic and Aeolic dialects from different centuries; the predominant influence is Eastern Ionic. Most researchers believe that the poems were originally transmitted orally. Despite being predominantly known for its tragic and serious themes, the Homeric poems also contain instances of comedy and laughter.
Homer's epic poems shaped aspects of ancient Greek culture and education, fostering ideals of heroism, glory, and honor. To Plato, Homer was simply the one who "has taught Greece" (τὴν Ἑλλάδα πεπαίδευκεν). In Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, Virgil refers to Homer as "Poet sovereign", king of all poets; in the preface to his translation of the Iliad, Alexander Pope acknowledges that Homer has always been considered the "greatest of poets". From antiquity to the present day, Homeric epics have inspired many famous works of literature, music, art, and film.
The question of by whom, when, where and under what circumstances the Iliad and Odyssey were composed continues to be debated. Scholars remain divided as to whether the two works are the product of a single author. It is thought that the poems were composed at some point around the late eighth or early seventh century BC. Many accounts of Homer's life circulated in classical antiquity; the most widespread account was that he was a blind bard from Ionia, a region of central coastal Anatolia in present-day Turkey. Modern scholars consider these accounts legendary.

French: Homère, Italian: Omero, Portuguese, Spanish: Homero.

Reviews

[Will Butts · Rating 5 out of 5]

“AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH” - Odysseus’s crew

[shriya · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lattimore translation is nice and lyrical. But, he needs to put the fries in the bag.

[Morgan B · Rating 5 out of 5]

every time ive read this or thought about it i think about the fact the dog bit was not needed but homer really said let me twist the knife just slightly more into your heart

[Michael Arnold · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine translation, but certainly not the best - like is so often said of it.

[Hank Mermis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book and a good translation.

[Kieran · Rating 4 out of 5]

they just be doing shit

[Callie Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

this guy was wayyyy to unfaithfull to his wife who BY THE WAY never once cheated on him when he cheated on her with a million other women.

[Mara Schrantz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Most typical man with a high IQ in history gets payback for having an ego problem and decides to complain about it enough until he gets what he wants, in poetry form. It is so bad I want to give it a zero, but that's not possible, so I give it a one.

[Nathan Laundry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read Wilson's translation the first time. This is my second read and it is much more enjoyable the second time around.

While, overall, I enjoyed Lattimore's translation more - finding it more grand and distant - I'm grateful to have read Wilson's translation first. Wilson makes Homer accessible without sacrificing academic rigour.

The wanderings read like a novel. They're fast, full of adventure and hardship, and thoroughly enjoyable. The nostos is a whole other beast and I struggled to enjoy it as much. Though, it's pretty rewarding when finally Odysseus "cleanses" his house of the suitors and reunites with Penelope and Laertes.

Reading: disguise and recognition in the Odyssey to try to get a better grasp of the emotional weight of the Nostos.

[Art Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a great story, and it’s a wonderful way to attempt to understand an ancient culture, and to compare it with ours.

I listened to the The Odyssey of Homer, one of the Great Courses, by professor Elizabeth Vandiver before I read this book. She gives the listener essential information. For example she explains how xenia , the “guest-host relationship” is important for understanding Odysseus’ relationship with the many characters in the book.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It seems a bit arrogant to have the nerve to review something like the Odyssey. A work like this judges you and not the other way around. But I’ll say this - it is a rip-roaring good story. Every single time, I am holding my breath in the last books. This time I read aloud to kids age 9-17 and everyone was completely engaged. A story for all time.

Lattimore’s translation is excellent, readable, clear.

[Filip Vizitiu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find Lattimore's to be the best English translations of Homer. More than others, they preserve the sense that "by the extremely artistic definiteness, and the calm and purity of the lines we are already lifted far above the purely material amalgamation: its colours, by an artistic deception, appear lighter, milder, warmer; its men, in this coloured, warm illumination, appear better and more sympathetic."

[¥andhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

89/100
I have probably read the E.V Reiu translation upwards of 15 times. While the story is the same, I preferred his translation to this one. The Odyssey had survived since the 8th century BC for good reason, It is legendary. Every time I re-read it I notice something new. The first half is epic and mythical; while the second half drags a little, the last two chapters more than make up for it. It is a must read.

[BrujaDelBosque · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Human beings live for only a short time, and when a man is harsh himself, and his mind knows harsh thoughts, all men pray that sufferings will befall him hereafter while he lives; and when he is dead all men make fun of him. But when a man is blameless himself, and his thoughts are blameless, the friends he has entertained carry his fame widely to all mankind, and many are they who call him excellent.”- page 290

[Donald Yoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best translation for accuracy. You will discover Cyclops never had one eye. There is no Medusa in Odyssey that has snake hair or freezes people to stone from looking at them. that is from Ovid 700 years later in the Roman Empire. Of course they minimized the feminist, anti war, and anti elite messaging in most translations of this book. This one has it all.

[Bonnie Mcclellan-Broussard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know how many times I've read this, it's always a great story. The translation is very readable and, in this edition, there is not an excess of introductory material or notes. So, probably not a good edition if you are studying it, but quite good if reading for entertainment.

[Luke Prizzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most striking things in the Odyssey is how rural and agrarian it all is. Rich young aristocrats do their own washing for instance and skin their own meat. They are truly in touch with what John Senior calls elemental things.

[Taylor Swift · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lattimore's translation makes the odyssey feel brand new. I especially like book V with Helen and Menelaus' subtle confrontation.

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic translation.

[Andrea Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just feel like it’s a crime to NOT give the Odyssey 5 stars, ya feel?

[Ethical Lara Croft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply the best, most timeless, and most approachable translation of The Odyssey I have ever read.

[Anissa Rezy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I assume that it will be hard to understand it. But turns out I'm doing great!
After reading it I want to taste sweet wine

[Jenny Savage]

What a profound book. It shaped my imagination in ways that I wasn't anticipating. Homer is a wise student of human nature. I loved the story and this edition, and will re-read it soon.

[Reid Reineke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic, who would have guessed.

[Jill Perlick Burrows · Rating 3 out of 5]

Toughest book to read. Hard to get into. I’m excited to see the movie though. Then will read Circe and Book of Achilles.

[Pia Curran · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Odyssey is permanently etched into my soul and one day I WILL read it in the original.

[Kamelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

KALIAN HARUS BACA INI SAMBIL DENGERIN EPIC THE MUSICAL!!! Actually kalo kalian struggle memahami ancient text yang sangat baku ini bisa coba alternatif dengerin musik, enak bgt jujur. Saga nya juga komplit, perjalanan Ody balik perang sampe akhir e ketemu Penelope lagi.

[MG King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mmmmmm good translation again. Really like Lattimore’s style. Also forgot how good the Odyssey is in general. I love Penelope and Telemachos and Odysseus so much GOD and the parts in Hades!!! Absolute bangers