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Homer's Odyssey
The story of the Greek hero Odysseus and his long journey home from Troy has been told and re-told for centuries: how he outwitted the Cyclops, survived the enchantments of Circe and the Sirens and used all his cunning and bravery to confront the suitors laying claim to his wife, Penelope. Chris Tryhorn has returned to Homer's ancient Greek poem to provide modern readers with a clear, accessible version that aims to tell the original story in a pacier, more direct way than a full translation can.
Written with a faithful attention to detail but with the general reader in mind, this book brings to life all the wonderful scenes and characters from Homer's poem, from Odysseus' encounter with the young princess Nausicaa and his meeting with the ghosts of his old comrades Achilles and Agamemnon to his escape from the monster Scylla and the whirlpool Charybdis. We follow Odysseus as he returns to his home island of Ithaca to reclaim his palace from the odious suitors and is reunited with his family.
An unforgettable tale that has had untold influence on western literature, the Odyssey is also a profound and moving portrait of survival, exile and homecoming. This new version, which contains extensive notes analysing Homer's themes and artistry, aims to refresh the appeal of this immortal masterpiece for today's readers.
Written with a faithful attention to detail but with the general reader in mind, this book brings to life all the wonderful scenes and characters from Homer's poem, from Odysseus' encounter with the young princess Nausicaa and his meeting with the ghosts of his old comrades Achilles and Agamemnon to his escape from the monster Scylla and the whirlpool Charybdis. We follow Odysseus as he returns to his home island of Ithaca to reclaim his palace from the odious suitors and is reunited with his family.
An unforgettable tale that has had untold influence on western literature, the Odyssey is also a profound and moving portrait of survival, exile and homecoming. This new version, which contains extensive notes analysing Homer's themes and artistry, aims to refresh the appeal of this immortal masterpiece for today's readers.
265 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 17, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 21, 2026
Thank you to Troubadour for the ARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
A long time fan of Homer's Odyssey, I was intrigued by this take on the epic poem. This is not a direct translation of The Odyssey, but perhaps best described as Chris' Odyssey, or even Chris' Homer Odyssey (a naming convention reminiscent of a well-known steak house) symbolizing that this is a retelling of the story for a new audience. This is essentially an adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey out of poetical form and into a more direct, succinct narrative form.
The pacing of Tryhorn's story is wonderful; he shaves off minor storylines (for example, a few of Odysseus' conversations with the dead) in order to best help the reader trace the primary and secondary characters necessary to the tale. I found this to be a wise choice.
While I wouldn’t recommend this in lieu of Homer's epic poem (of which there are multiple great translations), if a reader is hesitant to pick up the original, I think this could be a stepping stone into the story in the same way that children’s books or other abridged editions connect readers to the greater story in accessible ways.
A long time fan of Homer's Odyssey, I was intrigued by this take on the epic poem. This is not a direct translation of The Odyssey, but perhaps best described as Chris' Odyssey, or even Chris' Homer Odyssey (a naming convention reminiscent of a well-known steak house) symbolizing that this is a retelling of the story for a new audience. This is essentially an adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey out of poetical form and into a more direct, succinct narrative form.
The pacing of Tryhorn's story is wonderful; he shaves off minor storylines (for example, a few of Odysseus' conversations with the dead) in order to best help the reader trace the primary and secondary characters necessary to the tale. I found this to be a wise choice.
While I wouldn’t recommend this in lieu of Homer's epic poem (of which there are multiple great translations), if a reader is hesitant to pick up the original, I think this could be a stepping stone into the story in the same way that children’s books or other abridged editions connect readers to the greater story in accessible ways.
August 5, 2026
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
I’ve always wanted to read The Odyssey, but if I’m being honest, the original has always felt a little intimidating. This retelling made it so much more accessible while still feeling like the epic adventure everyone knows and loves.
The writing was easy to get into, the pacing kept things moving, and I never felt overwhelmed trying to keep track of everything. It really let me enjoy the journey without feeling like I needed a history degree first.
I loved following Odysseus on his long journey home and getting to experience all of the iconic moments in a way that felt fresh and easy to read. It honestly made me want to go back and explore more Greek mythology.
If you’ve been curious about The Odyssey but haven’t known where to start, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a go. I think it’s a fantastic introduction and a really enjoyable retelling.
A really fun, approachable take on a timeless classic, and I’m so glad I picked it up!
I’ve always wanted to read The Odyssey, but if I’m being honest, the original has always felt a little intimidating. This retelling made it so much more accessible while still feeling like the epic adventure everyone knows and loves.
The writing was easy to get into, the pacing kept things moving, and I never felt overwhelmed trying to keep track of everything. It really let me enjoy the journey without feeling like I needed a history degree first.
I loved following Odysseus on his long journey home and getting to experience all of the iconic moments in a way that felt fresh and easy to read. It honestly made me want to go back and explore more Greek mythology.
If you’ve been curious about The Odyssey but haven’t known where to start, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a go. I think it’s a fantastic introduction and a really enjoyable retelling.
A really fun, approachable take on a timeless classic, and I’m so glad I picked it up!
August 10, 2026
Eminently readable🙂🏛
I thought I knew the Odyssey but learned a good bit extra from this very reader friendly Chris Tryhorn prose translation. I thought Odysseus's twenty year trek from Troy to Ithaca and the many obstacles to his return to his kingdom were the bulk of Homer's epic followup to The Iliad. The sections about Telemachus, Odysseus's son, his wife Penelope and her many treacherous suitors took up much more of the tale than I had anticipated and I was surprised to find humor in everyone telling Penelope to go take a bath (I guess that was the yoga or chill pill of the time for women!).
Glad I read it. For readers a bit leery about studying the work, this takes the worry away and keeps the heroes, villains and interfering gods, the adventure and rituals built into Greek society of the era.
Thanks to Troubador and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
I thought I knew the Odyssey but learned a good bit extra from this very reader friendly Chris Tryhorn prose translation. I thought Odysseus's twenty year trek from Troy to Ithaca and the many obstacles to his return to his kingdom were the bulk of Homer's epic followup to The Iliad. The sections about Telemachus, Odysseus's son, his wife Penelope and her many treacherous suitors took up much more of the tale than I had anticipated and I was surprised to find humor in everyone telling Penelope to go take a bath (I guess that was the yoga or chill pill of the time for women!).
Glad I read it. For readers a bit leery about studying the work, this takes the worry away and keeps the heroes, villains and interfering gods, the adventure and rituals built into Greek society of the era.
Thanks to Troubador and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
July 19, 2026
A great book if you want to read the Odyssey, but in easier language than most translations, with some of the less relevant parts taken out. I’d recommend reading the notes after each chapter (instead of at the end, as I did), as they provide good background information and detail what was changed or left out. Perfect as a first foray into Homer’s Odyssey.
Some parts felt a little bit like they could have also been left out as they seemed less relevant - I don’t know if that’s because other parts were taken out and some context was missing or because I just missed some general knowledge.
Thanks to Troubador and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this review copy.
Some parts felt a little bit like they could have also been left out as they seemed less relevant - I don’t know if that’s because other parts were taken out and some context was missing or because I just missed some general knowledge.
Thanks to Troubador and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this review copy.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews