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The Odyssey: An Illustrated Guide: A Character-by-Character Guide to the Story of Odysseus

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For almost three thousand years, the Odyssey has captured imaginations with seafaring adventure, romance, friendships, as well as feats of heroism and of bloody revenge. The tale of Odysseus’s long and eventful journey home remains one of the greatest epics ever told, inspiring new translations, adaptations, and retellings year after year. Now, this beautifully illustrated guide to the ancient Greek tale invites readers to take a closer look at the heroes, deities, and monsters that bring the legendary story to life.

The An Illustrated Guide features forty stunning full-color illustrations and offers a deep dive into the most important characters in the epic. Author and host of the popular podcast Literature and History, Doug Metzger PhD, brings his characteristic humor and attention to detail to compelling character profiles of the main players in Homer’s epic. Organized in the order they appear in the poem, each entry introduces a new figure in Odysseus’s world, retelling the story of the Odyssey along the way.

Whether you’re a newcomer to ancient Greek myths or returning to a beloved story, The An Illustrated Guide is a must-read for anyone looking for some classic adventure!

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 23, 2026

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Doug Metzger

2 books

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Profile Image for Stephen Altena.
83 reviews
August 4, 2026
Hey! You want to know all about The Odyssey but you don’t want to wade through a 600 page tome?
Have I got a book for you!
This is the perfect cheat guide to Homer’s epic, written by a literature scholar.
I appreciated his emphasis on context, and showing how an Ancient Greek audience might appreciate the story differently from a contemporary audience.
Gods! Monsters! Hungry Giants!
Profile Image for Anna.
624 reviews44 followers
July 10, 2026
I loved this. It is the perfect companion to reading the Odyssey but is also just a lovely book to read on it's own merit. It also serves as a beautiful, high quality book for your shelf.
Profile Image for Lisa Lawrence.
1,316 reviews8 followers
September 7, 2026
A detailed explanation of the characters in the epic poem. It gives excellent explanations.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews