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The Odyssey (Penguin Classics) by Homer
Unknown Binding
Published January 1, 1739
24 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Homer
4,714 books7,041 followersHomer (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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 18, 2024
Capturing but dragging story
summary: The story of the odyssey is about the events of after the Iliad, the story is told about Odysseus finding his return home after the devastating tragedies he had faced.
Thoughts: I thoroughly enjoyed the book; it was captivating with words and knew its audience well. I enjoyed how the characters were written and were described; it allowed me to better understand the story and be able to picture the events of the story. The amount of imagery was abundant, like you could be pulled into the story. A few things I disliked was how long the story dragged on for, it felt as if you were trudging through mud, but if you skipped a part, you would be lost. You would have to plan where you would stop reading or else when you decided to pick up the book again you would be lost. In some places of the story the language would be confusing at best, you would have to reread the same line repeatedly before moving forward.
Closer: The odyssey was a fairly good read, I feel mythology fans, more specifically, Greek mythology fans would enjoy reading this book. This book was a good read; I would definitely recommend it to someone of a higher reading level.
summary: The story of the odyssey is about the events of after the Iliad, the story is told about Odysseus finding his return home after the devastating tragedies he had faced.
Thoughts: I thoroughly enjoyed the book; it was captivating with words and knew its audience well. I enjoyed how the characters were written and were described; it allowed me to better understand the story and be able to picture the events of the story. The amount of imagery was abundant, like you could be pulled into the story. A few things I disliked was how long the story dragged on for, it felt as if you were trudging through mud, but if you skipped a part, you would be lost. You would have to plan where you would stop reading or else when you decided to pick up the book again you would be lost. In some places of the story the language would be confusing at best, you would have to reread the same line repeatedly before moving forward.
Closer: The odyssey was a fairly good read, I feel mythology fans, more specifically, Greek mythology fans would enjoy reading this book. This book was a good read; I would definitely recommend it to someone of a higher reading level.
September 16, 2025
“What a lamentable thing it is that men should blame the gods and regard us as the source of their troubles, when it is their own transgressions which bring them suffering that was not their destiny.” P.4
‘My fellow-citizens,’ he said, ‘kindness, generosity, and justice should no longer be the aims of any man who wields the royal sceptre - in fact he might just as well devote his days to tyranny and lawless deeds, since none of those whom the godlike Odysseus ruled with a father’s loving care give a thought to him today.’ P21
Few sons, indeed, are like their fathers. Generally they are worse; but just a few are better. And since you are by no means lacking in Odysseus’ resourcefulness, and since you will be no fool or coward in the future, you can hope to succeed in this undertaking.’ P22
Please be persuaded now by me, and contain your grief, if you possibly can, since I for one take no delight in weeping as I dine - and besides, it’s almost dawn. Not that I think it wrong to shed a tear for any man who meets his fate and dies. Indeed, what other tribute can one pay to poor mortality than a lock of his hair from the head and a tear on the cheek? P.46
When they reached the King’s famous palace, the bright-eyed goddess Athene said: ‘Here, sir, is the house that you asked meto show you. You will find princes, favourites of Zeus, feasting there, but go straight in and have no qualms. For it is the bold man who always succeeds in his enterprises even if he comes from far away. P86
So true it is that a man’s fatherland and his parents are what he holds sweetest, even though he has settled far away from his people in some rich home in foreign lands. P111
‘“Cyclops,” I said, “ you ask me my name. I’ll tell it to you; and in return give me the gift you promised me. My name is Nobody. That is what I am called by my mother and father and by all my friends.” P119
No sooner had they swung back and churned the water with their blades than sweet oblivion sealed Odyssues’ eyes in sleep, delicious and profound, the very counterfeit of death. P171
‘Anyone who met you, even a god, would have to be a consummate trickster to surpass you in subterfuge. You were always an obstinate, cunning and irrepressible intriguer. P176
The god will give and the god will take away, according to his will, for he can do everything. P192
These nights are very long. They give one time to listen to and be entertained as well as time to sleep. Nor is there any need for you to go early to bed. Too much sleep is a bad thing. … Meanwhile let us two have the satisfaction of sharing our unhappy memories over our food and wine here in the hut. For a man who has been through bitter experiences and travelled far enjoys even his suffering after a time. P205
There’s a force in iron that lures men on. P217
It’s sacrilege for someone who has received mercy to plot against someone in need of mercy. P220
‘Of all the creatures that breathe and creep about on Mother Earth there is none so helpless as man. As long as the gods grant him prosperity and health he imagines he will never suffer misfortune in the future. Yet when the blessed gods bring him troubles he has no choice but to endure them with a patient heart. The reason is that the view we mortals take of this earthly life depends on what Zeus, the Father of gods and men, sends us day by day. P242
The whole world prays that a heartless man who behaves heartlessly will suffer misfortune in his life, and derides him after his death; whereas when a man behaves kindly because his heart is kind, his reputation is spread far and wide by the guests he befriends, and he has no lack of people to sing his praises. P258
‘Dreams, my friend,’ said the thoughtful Penelope, ‘are awkward and confusing things: not all that people see in them comes true. For there are two gates through which these insubstantial visions reach us; one is of horn and the other of ivory. Those that come through the carved ivory gate cheat us with empty promises that never see fulfillment; whereas those that issue from the gate of burnished horn inform the dreamer what will really happen. P264
Odysseus looked round his house to see whether any survivors were hiding to escape black Death. But he found the whole company lying in heaps of blood and dust, like fish that that the fishermen have dragged out of the grey surf in the meshes of their net on to a curving beach, to lie in masses on the sand longing for the salt water, till the bright sun ends their lives. P297
‘My fellow-citizens,’ he said, ‘kindness, generosity, and justice should no longer be the aims of any man who wields the royal sceptre - in fact he might just as well devote his days to tyranny and lawless deeds, since none of those whom the godlike Odysseus ruled with a father’s loving care give a thought to him today.’ P21
Few sons, indeed, are like their fathers. Generally they are worse; but just a few are better. And since you are by no means lacking in Odysseus’ resourcefulness, and since you will be no fool or coward in the future, you can hope to succeed in this undertaking.’ P22
Please be persuaded now by me, and contain your grief, if you possibly can, since I for one take no delight in weeping as I dine - and besides, it’s almost dawn. Not that I think it wrong to shed a tear for any man who meets his fate and dies. Indeed, what other tribute can one pay to poor mortality than a lock of his hair from the head and a tear on the cheek? P.46
When they reached the King’s famous palace, the bright-eyed goddess Athene said: ‘Here, sir, is the house that you asked meto show you. You will find princes, favourites of Zeus, feasting there, but go straight in and have no qualms. For it is the bold man who always succeeds in his enterprises even if he comes from far away. P86
So true it is that a man’s fatherland and his parents are what he holds sweetest, even though he has settled far away from his people in some rich home in foreign lands. P111
‘“Cyclops,” I said, “ you ask me my name. I’ll tell it to you; and in return give me the gift you promised me. My name is Nobody. That is what I am called by my mother and father and by all my friends.” P119
No sooner had they swung back and churned the water with their blades than sweet oblivion sealed Odyssues’ eyes in sleep, delicious and profound, the very counterfeit of death. P171
‘Anyone who met you, even a god, would have to be a consummate trickster to surpass you in subterfuge. You were always an obstinate, cunning and irrepressible intriguer. P176
The god will give and the god will take away, according to his will, for he can do everything. P192
These nights are very long. They give one time to listen to and be entertained as well as time to sleep. Nor is there any need for you to go early to bed. Too much sleep is a bad thing. … Meanwhile let us two have the satisfaction of sharing our unhappy memories over our food and wine here in the hut. For a man who has been through bitter experiences and travelled far enjoys even his suffering after a time. P205
There’s a force in iron that lures men on. P217
It’s sacrilege for someone who has received mercy to plot against someone in need of mercy. P220
‘Of all the creatures that breathe and creep about on Mother Earth there is none so helpless as man. As long as the gods grant him prosperity and health he imagines he will never suffer misfortune in the future. Yet when the blessed gods bring him troubles he has no choice but to endure them with a patient heart. The reason is that the view we mortals take of this earthly life depends on what Zeus, the Father of gods and men, sends us day by day. P242
The whole world prays that a heartless man who behaves heartlessly will suffer misfortune in his life, and derides him after his death; whereas when a man behaves kindly because his heart is kind, his reputation is spread far and wide by the guests he befriends, and he has no lack of people to sing his praises. P258
‘Dreams, my friend,’ said the thoughtful Penelope, ‘are awkward and confusing things: not all that people see in them comes true. For there are two gates through which these insubstantial visions reach us; one is of horn and the other of ivory. Those that come through the carved ivory gate cheat us with empty promises that never see fulfillment; whereas those that issue from the gate of burnished horn inform the dreamer what will really happen. P264
Odysseus looked round his house to see whether any survivors were hiding to escape black Death. But he found the whole company lying in heaps of blood and dust, like fish that that the fishermen have dragged out of the grey surf in the meshes of their net on to a curving beach, to lie in masses on the sand longing for the salt water, till the bright sun ends their lives. P297
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2025
In my Secret History review, I joked that I’d make the aesthetic my whole personality and join some cult dedicated to Greek literature. Well… the prophecy fulfilled itself. I now own a trench coat and I am reading Homer. I think I’m starting off strong (Thank you, thank you👏🏽😌)
Before I even started The Odyssey, I was spiritually scanning through the pages and I saw that the paragraphs were numbered, and I thought “Fuck, this is one of those books people write dissertations about.” Pure panic. Immediate googling: “Can I read The Odyssey without literally having no knowledge on Greek mythology?”
Because yes, I read Greek mythology years ago, but do I remember every god, monster, tragic cousin, sea nymph, and random warrior who gets introduced and dies within just one single sentence? Absolutely not. There are too many characters and half of them appear once just to never be mentioned again.
Luckily, the Penguin Classics translation I have is extremely beginner-friendly which saved me from having to pretend that I am smarter than in reality. I understood everything without crying. Huge win.
But here’s the thing: Some of the translation choices triggered my TikTok brainrot mind. Words like “bird-lore” made my brain immediately thinking: “…why does this sound like another fashion trend or something I heard in a thirst trap?”
It felt like I was reading Homer through the mentality of a 20-something years old who scrolls on TikTok too often, and seeing those modernish terms gave me the strangest, funniest sense of a thunder strike (😏)
This is not the book’s fault.
This is not the translator’s fault.
This is just my fried brain refusing to behave while reading something from the 8th century BC.
One thing I absolutely adore is that The Odyssey proves humanity hasn’t changed at all.
In ancient Greek mythology, men blamed nymphs.
During the Inquisition, they blamed witches.
Today, they blame “the toxic ex.”
Same shit, different font.
Circe didn’t “trap” Odysseus. He stayed for a full year because the food was good and he could finally live his cottage core fantasy. Calypso didn’t “hold him hostage”. She literally didn’t have a ship, not a crew to sail him. What did he expect her to do, build a yacht out of driftwood? Every woman in this man’s journey is just doing her best, and he’s out here writing Trip Advisor reviews about how he was “detained.”
Another part that cracked me up is how people in this story will meet ONCE and immediately overshare their full traumas, family tree, medical history, and favorite color. Ancient Greeks invented the true art of trauma dumping within 0.4 seconds of meeting a stranger.
Overall, I genuinely enjoyed The Odyssey. It’s dramatic in all the best ways, full of symbolism, and mythological nonsense.
But the funniest part?
After everything he’s been through (storms, monsters, nymphs, gods, shipwrecks) the most dangerous thing in the entire book is still a man refusing to take accountability.
Some things truly never change.
Before I even started The Odyssey, I was spiritually scanning through the pages and I saw that the paragraphs were numbered, and I thought “Fuck, this is one of those books people write dissertations about.” Pure panic. Immediate googling: “Can I read The Odyssey without literally having no knowledge on Greek mythology?”
Because yes, I read Greek mythology years ago, but do I remember every god, monster, tragic cousin, sea nymph, and random warrior who gets introduced and dies within just one single sentence? Absolutely not. There are too many characters and half of them appear once just to never be mentioned again.
Luckily, the Penguin Classics translation I have is extremely beginner-friendly which saved me from having to pretend that I am smarter than in reality. I understood everything without crying. Huge win.
But here’s the thing: Some of the translation choices triggered my TikTok brainrot mind. Words like “bird-lore” made my brain immediately thinking: “…why does this sound like another fashion trend or something I heard in a thirst trap?”
It felt like I was reading Homer through the mentality of a 20-something years old who scrolls on TikTok too often, and seeing those modernish terms gave me the strangest, funniest sense of a thunder strike (😏)
This is not the book’s fault.
This is not the translator’s fault.
This is just my fried brain refusing to behave while reading something from the 8th century BC.
One thing I absolutely adore is that The Odyssey proves humanity hasn’t changed at all.
In ancient Greek mythology, men blamed nymphs.
During the Inquisition, they blamed witches.
Today, they blame “the toxic ex.”
Same shit, different font.
Circe didn’t “trap” Odysseus. He stayed for a full year because the food was good and he could finally live his cottage core fantasy. Calypso didn’t “hold him hostage”. She literally didn’t have a ship, not a crew to sail him. What did he expect her to do, build a yacht out of driftwood? Every woman in this man’s journey is just doing her best, and he’s out here writing Trip Advisor reviews about how he was “detained.”
Another part that cracked me up is how people in this story will meet ONCE and immediately overshare their full traumas, family tree, medical history, and favorite color. Ancient Greeks invented the true art of trauma dumping within 0.4 seconds of meeting a stranger.
Overall, I genuinely enjoyed The Odyssey. It’s dramatic in all the best ways, full of symbolism, and mythological nonsense.
But the funniest part?
After everything he’s been through (storms, monsters, nymphs, gods, shipwrecks) the most dangerous thing in the entire book is still a man refusing to take accountability.
Some things truly never change.
July 12, 2024
i enjoyed it. but tbf i am a sucker for anything greek mythology. it did drag on for a bit, and i honestly wanted odysseus to just shut up for once. as for penelope, i wanted to kiss her. honestly i swear odysseus was just yapping for half the book, chronic yapper that one. just like me fr. pretty accessible plot, too. mostly easy to understand what was happening, and to follow the plot. as it is a classic, the language isn’t exactly simple, but i would say it’s quite understandable. but yeah, quite a decent read overall :)
October 26, 2024
My thoughts roughly come to this:
Odysseus is a fool. But I guess there’d literally be no odyssey if he wasn’t.
Penelope and Telemachus are the real MVPs.
I’m glad I listened to this as it was designed to be a poem shared over many nights. I felt like the rhythm of the narration made it feel so much more like an unfolding of an epic, even when the specific phrasing used as a repetitive prompt/use of syllables wore thin.
Did enjoy this.
Odysseus is a fool. But I guess there’d literally be no odyssey if he wasn’t.
Penelope and Telemachus are the real MVPs.
I’m glad I listened to this as it was designed to be a poem shared over many nights. I felt like the rhythm of the narration made it feel so much more like an unfolding of an epic, even when the specific phrasing used as a repetitive prompt/use of syllables wore thin.
Did enjoy this.
February 8, 2024
Telemachus is great, i love the Percy Jackson references, Homer must have been a fan, he like copied stuff from this book, but i cant blame him, Percy Jackson is pretty good. Also I Didn't know Homer had a sense of humor, but this book proved me wrong, it was great 7.876391395/10.
May 13, 2024
By far one of the best books I have read until now! A book mostly about suffering and loss, but also about the sweet heart joy and comfort when meeting your loved ones.
"Of all the creatures that breathe and creep about on Mother Earth there is none so helpless as a man."
"Of all the creatures that breathe and creep about on Mother Earth there is none so helpless as a man."
December 14, 2025
It doesn’t feel right to give this book anything other than a 5 stars as it is the quintessential foundation of western literature. I had to read this for my English class and I’m so glad I did because I’ve been wanting to read this book for awhile. I can’t wait to read the Iliad!
February 8, 2024
This was better than all of the Marvel Phase 4 movies
September 24, 2024
The poetry makes it hard to follow, but fun nonetheless
May 17, 2025
I do love it, but it really does drag just before he gets back to Ithaca.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews