What do you think?
Rate this book
The Odyssey
356 pages, Paperback
56 people are currently reading
140 people want to read
About the author
W.H.D. Rouse
148 books20 followersRouse is known for his plain English prose translations of Homer's ancient Greek epic poems Odyssey (1937) and Iliad (1938). He is also recognized for his translations of Plato's Dialogues, including The Republic, Apology, Crito, and Phaedo.
William Henry Denham (W. H. D.) Rouse (30 May 1863 – 10 February 1950) was a pioneering British teacher who advocated the use of the Direct Method of teaching Latin and Greek.
Born in Calcutta, India on 31 May 1863, Rouse gained a double first in the Classical Tripos at the University of Cambridge, where he also studied Sanskrit. He became a Fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge in 1888.
After brief spells at Bedford School and Cheltenham College, he became a schoolmaster at Rugby School, where he encouraged Arthur Ransome - against his parents' wishes - to become a writer. Ransome later wrote, "My greatest piece of good fortune in coming to Rugby was that I passed so low into the school ... that I came at once into the hands of a most remarkable man whom I might otherwise never have met. This was Dr W.H.D. Rouse."
Rouse was appointed headmaster of The Perse School, Cambridge, in 1902. While in charge, he restored it to a sound financial footing following a crisis. As a teacher he believed firmly in learning by doing as well as seeing and hearing: although the curriculum at the Perse was dominated by classics, he urged that science should be learned through experiment and observation. He was a strong personality, described by the archivist of The Perse School as the school's greatest Headmaster: "Rouse was strongly independent to the point of eccentricity. He hated most machines, all bureaucracy and public exams." He retired from teaching in 1928.
In 1911, Rouse started a successful series of summer schools for teachers to promulgate the Direct Method of teaching Latin and Greek. The Association for the Reform of Latin Teaching (ARLT) was formed in 1913 as a result of these seminars. Also in 1911, James Loeb chose W. H.D. Rouse, together with two other eminent Classical scholars, T. E. Page and Edward Capps, to be founding editors of the Loeb Classical Library.
Rouse died in Hayling Island on 10 February 1950.
Obituary: The Association for Latin Teaching
William Henry Denham (W. H. D.) Rouse (30 May 1863 – 10 February 1950) was a pioneering British teacher who advocated the use of the Direct Method of teaching Latin and Greek.
Born in Calcutta, India on 31 May 1863, Rouse gained a double first in the Classical Tripos at the University of Cambridge, where he also studied Sanskrit. He became a Fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge in 1888.
After brief spells at Bedford School and Cheltenham College, he became a schoolmaster at Rugby School, where he encouraged Arthur Ransome - against his parents' wishes - to become a writer. Ransome later wrote, "My greatest piece of good fortune in coming to Rugby was that I passed so low into the school ... that I came at once into the hands of a most remarkable man whom I might otherwise never have met. This was Dr W.H.D. Rouse."
Rouse was appointed headmaster of The Perse School, Cambridge, in 1902. While in charge, he restored it to a sound financial footing following a crisis. As a teacher he believed firmly in learning by doing as well as seeing and hearing: although the curriculum at the Perse was dominated by classics, he urged that science should be learned through experiment and observation. He was a strong personality, described by the archivist of The Perse School as the school's greatest Headmaster: "Rouse was strongly independent to the point of eccentricity. He hated most machines, all bureaucracy and public exams." He retired from teaching in 1928.
In 1911, Rouse started a successful series of summer schools for teachers to promulgate the Direct Method of teaching Latin and Greek. The Association for the Reform of Latin Teaching (ARLT) was formed in 1913 as a result of these seminars. Also in 1911, James Loeb chose W. H.D. Rouse, together with two other eminent Classical scholars, T. E. Page and Edward Capps, to be founding editors of the Loeb Classical Library.
Rouse died in Hayling Island on 10 February 1950.
Obituary: The Association for Latin Teaching
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
Read
October 5, 2023Did it the way the OGs did it (over the course of three days on audiobook)
March 10, 2025
So I read this because the Epic the Musical hyperfixation is real. The writing is decent but I didn’t realize how little of the Odyssey involves his actual journey home, and most of the journey is told after the fact rather than while it’s happening. The book actually focuses more on what happens when Odysseus gets home, which is all fine and good but it kind of drags a little bit. Like why did I have to spend an entire chapter of Odysseus at a swinherd’s house? That’s the same amount of time they spent on the story of the Cyclops and I would argue that one has WAY more to tell. I still enjoyed it but it definitely started to lose me toward the end.
June 13, 2020
Much as I was thoroughly fond of this beloved epic tale, I will always be in search for a better translated version of the Odyssey.
January 16, 2026
Will never forgive Christopher Nolan for making me imagine Telemachus with Tom Holland’s stupid ass face
Listen, the Odyssey itself is really interesting. I enjoy the story of Odysseus going from trial to trial and using wits and strength to get through. I think it’s engaging to see how his crew slowly diminishes over time. The issue is that is no consistency into how much detail is provided. Some of these trials are merely mentioned and some get chapters. Then the entire second half of the book is about taking his home back from the suitors.
There really should have been more focus on the journey home and the bit with the suitors should have been the last chapter or two. Nothing more.
Listen, the Odyssey itself is really interesting. I enjoy the story of Odysseus going from trial to trial and using wits and strength to get through. I think it’s engaging to see how his crew slowly diminishes over time. The issue is that is no consistency into how much detail is provided. Some of these trials are merely mentioned and some get chapters. Then the entire second half of the book is about taking his home back from the suitors.
There really should have been more focus on the journey home and the bit with the suitors should have been the last chapter or two. Nothing more.
October 6, 2024
Modern literature is fun, but sometimes I miss reading the classics. What a delight it was to revisit this one with its glorious adventure and enduring love, its stories within stories and its impressive scenes of hospitality. There is a reason this tale has survived this long in the Western canon.
August 28, 2025
I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected to. I liked how much of the story was being told verbally from one to another. It really made it easy to imagine what it would have been like when it was first being shared.
January 8, 2025
I picked up this classic from a pile of discarded books purchased for eighth graders.
Choosing THE ODYSSEY for middle schoolers is a bit ambitious, on the one hand, being a Greek epic poem some three thousand years old. On the other hand, the story is a classic tale of adventure, monsters, battles, blood, and soldiers proving themselves in conflicts with each other, malevolent Greek gods, storms, earthquakes, and more. The epic has been wildly popular for centuries, inspiring hundreds of imitations and re-tellings, from James Joyce’s ULYSSES, to Charles Frazier’s COLD MOUNTAIN, to the Coen Brother’s film O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU (featuring John Candy in an eye patch as the Cyclops) to television’s BREAKING BAD. Having been an English major, I was certainly familiar with the work. But being no fan of Greek mythology, I had not read it.
It was great but started slowly. I remembered: epics begin “in media res,” or “in the middle of things.” But it’s not the middle—the ODYSSEY begins at the very end. The story begins within days of its ending, and the entire book consists of flashbacks and memories, each of them coming through the voice of various characters repeating tales of what has happened during the twenty years in which Odysseus has been gone from his home and family in Ithaca. Still, I could never shake the feeling I was reading book two of a two-part work: the Odyssey feels like a sequel, though it is not. (Some argue it is, but the ILIAD is focused on the Trojan War and Odysseus is not the protagonist but one of many characters. The ILIAD comes first chronologically, but the ODYSSEY is NOT a sequel in the usual sense of the word.)
Often we are removed from the action to a degree modern audiences would not tolerate. Not only are readers supposedly “listening” to the singer as he sings this epic song about Odysseus and his twenty-year struggle to return home from the Trojan War. But most of the conflicts in the story are removed by a second layer of distance: we are then listening to the epic singer as he tells the story that Odysseus or another character told a group of men sitting around tables eating a meal. So now we are twice-removed from the action. (A classic violation of the old writing adage, “show, don’t tell.”)
Add to that the sometimes lofty language and the occasional arcane word or obscure reference to characters from ancient history or from the ILIAD, and the whole thing begins to feel like an amazing story that you heard third-hand. It was a bit like my son coming home to repeat stories of a college baseball game in which he played: he is a great storyteller, a raconteur, and one not unwilling to act out all the key moments.
But it’s not the same as being there.
That being said, the action remains entertaining, even after 2,500 years and hundreds and hundreds of copycats. There is hardly a conflict or a plot point that has not been copied and re-worked in hundreds of different stories. But the book is still a pretty fun read.
The climax is entertaining: Odysseus returning home in disguise, wiping out his enemies and enjoying touching, almost sentimental reunions with his son, his wife, and his aging father. The almost super-human hero does what super-human heroes do, and he is just and kind and loving and we all cheer for his victory. It is a great feeling—even if we have seen the same tropes worked and re-worked in hundreds of lesser stories created during the twenty-five centuries in which this book has been a best seller!
Not only were the reunions between Odysseus and his family touching, but there is a scene in which the man spies his old dog of twenty years before, a once-great dog, of course, worthy of a king, and well-trained and full of heart. But the dog had grown old and sickly and full of grief for his lost master. The old dog looks up, recognizes Odysseus even in his disguise, wags his tail a bit and dies happy, having seen his beloved master again at last. Oh, it is a great scene for any dog lover.
Here's a bit of insight: Even after three thousand years the ODYSSEY proves that people are people, the world over. Men love their wives and children and dogs. There is grief when absent and joy when reunited. These are universal truths, the universal themes that make literature great and "relatable," no matter what nation or culture produced it or how many millennia have passed since it was written. The human heart has not changed.
I appreciated some English-teacher trivia like these bits---
Choosing THE ODYSSEY for middle schoolers is a bit ambitious, on the one hand, being a Greek epic poem some three thousand years old. On the other hand, the story is a classic tale of adventure, monsters, battles, blood, and soldiers proving themselves in conflicts with each other, malevolent Greek gods, storms, earthquakes, and more. The epic has been wildly popular for centuries, inspiring hundreds of imitations and re-tellings, from James Joyce’s ULYSSES, to Charles Frazier’s COLD MOUNTAIN, to the Coen Brother’s film O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU (featuring John Candy in an eye patch as the Cyclops) to television’s BREAKING BAD. Having been an English major, I was certainly familiar with the work. But being no fan of Greek mythology, I had not read it.
It was great but started slowly. I remembered: epics begin “in media res,” or “in the middle of things.” But it’s not the middle—the ODYSSEY begins at the very end. The story begins within days of its ending, and the entire book consists of flashbacks and memories, each of them coming through the voice of various characters repeating tales of what has happened during the twenty years in which Odysseus has been gone from his home and family in Ithaca. Still, I could never shake the feeling I was reading book two of a two-part work: the Odyssey feels like a sequel, though it is not. (Some argue it is, but the ILIAD is focused on the Trojan War and Odysseus is not the protagonist but one of many characters. The ILIAD comes first chronologically, but the ODYSSEY is NOT a sequel in the usual sense of the word.)
Often we are removed from the action to a degree modern audiences would not tolerate. Not only are readers supposedly “listening” to the singer as he sings this epic song about Odysseus and his twenty-year struggle to return home from the Trojan War. But most of the conflicts in the story are removed by a second layer of distance: we are then listening to the epic singer as he tells the story that Odysseus or another character told a group of men sitting around tables eating a meal. So now we are twice-removed from the action. (A classic violation of the old writing adage, “show, don’t tell.”)
Add to that the sometimes lofty language and the occasional arcane word or obscure reference to characters from ancient history or from the ILIAD, and the whole thing begins to feel like an amazing story that you heard third-hand. It was a bit like my son coming home to repeat stories of a college baseball game in which he played: he is a great storyteller, a raconteur, and one not unwilling to act out all the key moments.
But it’s not the same as being there.
That being said, the action remains entertaining, even after 2,500 years and hundreds and hundreds of copycats. There is hardly a conflict or a plot point that has not been copied and re-worked in hundreds of different stories. But the book is still a pretty fun read.
The climax is entertaining: Odysseus returning home in disguise, wiping out his enemies and enjoying touching, almost sentimental reunions with his son, his wife, and his aging father. The almost super-human hero does what super-human heroes do, and he is just and kind and loving and we all cheer for his victory. It is a great feeling—even if we have seen the same tropes worked and re-worked in hundreds of lesser stories created during the twenty-five centuries in which this book has been a best seller!
Not only were the reunions between Odysseus and his family touching, but there is a scene in which the man spies his old dog of twenty years before, a once-great dog, of course, worthy of a king, and well-trained and full of heart. But the dog had grown old and sickly and full of grief for his lost master. The old dog looks up, recognizes Odysseus even in his disguise, wags his tail a bit and dies happy, having seen his beloved master again at last. Oh, it is a great scene for any dog lover.
Here's a bit of insight: Even after three thousand years the ODYSSEY proves that people are people, the world over. Men love their wives and children and dogs. There is grief when absent and joy when reunited. These are universal truths, the universal themes that make literature great and "relatable," no matter what nation or culture produced it or how many millennia have passed since it was written. The human heart has not changed.
I appreciated some English-teacher trivia like these bits---
“Tantalos also I saw in his misery, standing in a lake up to his chin, always thirsty, but try as he would, not a drop could he lap up: for as often as the poor old man dipped his head to take a drink, the water was sucked back and disappeared until the dark earth showed under his feet as fate dried it away. Tall trees in full leaf dangled their fruit over his head, pears and pomegranates and fine juicy apples, sweet figs and ripe olives, but as often as the poor old man reached out a hand to catch one, the wind tossed them all up to the clouds.”
“Sisyphos also I saw and his tedious task, as he held up a monstrous stone with both hands. Scrambling with his feet, and pushing with his hands, he heaved the stone up the hill; but just as he was about to topple it over the crest, the weight was too much for him, and turned it back: downalong to the ground rolled the stone pitiless. Then he would push it again, stretching and struggling, with sweat pouring off every limb and the dust rising from his head.”
July 14, 2019
*2.5 stars
i...i...i read this...for school.
i...i...i read this...for school.
March 27, 2025
So this took me a while to read, but I’m done and happy I didn’t DNF because I really wasn’t into it at first.
Odysseus kicks off this epic stranded on an island, trapped by a goddess who’s completely obsessed with him. Thankfully, Athena steps in, and Zeus ultimately commands his release because things back home are spiraling out of control. And that’s where the adventure truly begins.
Before diving into my favorite parts, let’s be clear: Odysseus is a lowkey douche. Clever and brave, yes, but also manipulative and morally questionable—basically just as petty as the gods themselves. Take the moment he blinds a Cyclops and tricks the poor guy into shouting to others “Nobody!” It’s savage and genius, but also pretty messed up.
But credit where it’s due—even though he’s morally gray, Odysseus is smart as heck. He consistently outmaneuvers enemies determined to end him, constantly adapting to impossible situations. His proactive approach, always thinking several steps ahead, makes him a compelling and genuinely progressive protagonist. He’s flawed, but undeniably effective—though not always likable.
Then there’s the chilling moment when Odysseus willingly sacrifices six crew members to a six-headed monster, a choice made possible only by Circe’s warnings. He coldly accepts the lesser evil to save the rest, displaying brutal pragmatism that’s weirdly understandable. Exactly the gray morality that makes this epic timeless.
And speaking of loyalty, let’s not overlook Odysseus’s wife, Penelope. She was ride or die, loyal beyond question. Penelope cleverly fended off suitors for years, always holding onto hope that Odysseus would return, making her one of the most steadfast and compelling characters in literature.
One fascinating aspect was how Homer kept a seemingly simple goal—just get home—but packed it with endless obstacles and fascinating characters. It showed me, as a writer, just how powerful simplicity can be when executed brilliantly.
I’ll wrap up with this… the underlying theme of relentless and cyclical violence elevated the story far beyond a straightforward adventure. Without spoiling anything, let’s just say it provided genuinely profound commentary on humanity’s endless struggle.
In the end, The Odyssey was addictive—dark, thrilling, and surprisingly relevant, even thousands of years later.
Odysseus kicks off this epic stranded on an island, trapped by a goddess who’s completely obsessed with him. Thankfully, Athena steps in, and Zeus ultimately commands his release because things back home are spiraling out of control. And that’s where the adventure truly begins.
Before diving into my favorite parts, let’s be clear: Odysseus is a lowkey douche. Clever and brave, yes, but also manipulative and morally questionable—basically just as petty as the gods themselves. Take the moment he blinds a Cyclops and tricks the poor guy into shouting to others “Nobody!” It’s savage and genius, but also pretty messed up.
But credit where it’s due—even though he’s morally gray, Odysseus is smart as heck. He consistently outmaneuvers enemies determined to end him, constantly adapting to impossible situations. His proactive approach, always thinking several steps ahead, makes him a compelling and genuinely progressive protagonist. He’s flawed, but undeniably effective—though not always likable.
Then there’s the chilling moment when Odysseus willingly sacrifices six crew members to a six-headed monster, a choice made possible only by Circe’s warnings. He coldly accepts the lesser evil to save the rest, displaying brutal pragmatism that’s weirdly understandable. Exactly the gray morality that makes this epic timeless.
And speaking of loyalty, let’s not overlook Odysseus’s wife, Penelope. She was ride or die, loyal beyond question. Penelope cleverly fended off suitors for years, always holding onto hope that Odysseus would return, making her one of the most steadfast and compelling characters in literature.
One fascinating aspect was how Homer kept a seemingly simple goal—just get home—but packed it with endless obstacles and fascinating characters. It showed me, as a writer, just how powerful simplicity can be when executed brilliantly.
I’ll wrap up with this… the underlying theme of relentless and cyclical violence elevated the story far beyond a straightforward adventure. Without spoiling anything, let’s just say it provided genuinely profound commentary on humanity’s endless struggle.
In the end, The Odyssey was addictive—dark, thrilling, and surprisingly relevant, even thousands of years later.
December 31, 2021
Odysseus is the worst. He whines all the time. His hubris with the Cyclops dooms all his men to die, yet he sees nothing wrong with it. He is constantly bragging: name-dropping, talking about riches and feasts and the women/goddesses he can gain, how generous and brave and handsome he is. How great a leader he is. How the gods favor him, personally. How he is able to do things the gods say he cannot do. How prophesied of he is. How he has superior strength and skills above all the islanders and all the men of Ithaca. He is Odysseus, Never at Fault, Who Never Fails, who is Never Unready. And any who rightly call him out on things he should be ashamed of, he considers none of it to be correct. He is extremely prideful. Everyone has heard of him and no one has a bad thing to say.
The whole poem is very superfluous and excessive. The stories have inconsequential details. The pacing drags forever, and then skips forward very quickly over details of what happened (specifically things that can't be bragged about.) You can miss a lot if you're not paying attention, if it's the specific adventuring section. Otherwise, if you have the audio book going and stopped listening for a moment, you might not have missed anything important.
However, it's an interesting insight into their culture at the time: They have the odd habit of welcoming people into their homes and feeding them without knowing their names, where they come from, or even their intentions. Every traveler is somehow a prince and every visitor is the greatest of friends. And for some reason, manipulation is what trumps in their society. Whoever is the saddest sop wins.
Timeline of what happened (in case the pacing caused you to miss it):
Greek win of Trojan war
Isle with delicious wine
Isle of the lotus-eaters
Cyclops's island
Island with Giants
Circe's island
Hell
Sirens
Charybdis and Scylla (sounds like Silla)
Isle of Helios (month)
Zeus destroys ship and rest of them
Charybdis' spars, 10 days floating
7 years with Calypso (Ogygia island)
Island (Phaeacia) where he tells his story with the tall princess (Nausicaa) and ultimate sailors
And finally Ithaca, with the swine herder
The whole poem is very superfluous and excessive. The stories have inconsequential details. The pacing drags forever, and then skips forward very quickly over details of what happened (specifically things that can't be bragged about.) You can miss a lot if you're not paying attention, if it's the specific adventuring section. Otherwise, if you have the audio book going and stopped listening for a moment, you might not have missed anything important.
However, it's an interesting insight into their culture at the time: They have the odd habit of welcoming people into their homes and feeding them without knowing their names, where they come from, or even their intentions. Every traveler is somehow a prince and every visitor is the greatest of friends. And for some reason, manipulation is what trumps in their society. Whoever is the saddest sop wins.
Timeline of what happened (in case the pacing caused you to miss it):
Greek win of Trojan war
Isle with delicious wine
Isle of the lotus-eaters
Cyclops's island
Island with Giants
Circe's island
Hell
Sirens
Charybdis and Scylla (sounds like Silla)
Isle of Helios (month)
Zeus destroys ship and rest of them
Charybdis' spars, 10 days floating
7 years with Calypso (Ogygia island)
Island (Phaeacia) where he tells his story with the tall princess (Nausicaa) and ultimate sailors
And finally Ithaca, with the swine herder
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2023
Writing a review of The Odyssey is tricky. It’s of course one of the oldest stories in the world, though it started as an oral story. I think the way it’s presented in this book is not ideal for reading. Much of this book is Odysseus recounting his experiences, instead of the reader seeing them happen firsthand. As an oral story, I think this would be fine and I understand that Odysseus telling his story that way is reminiscent of how the Odyssey would have originally been told. But to make it accessible for modern readers and audiences, I think it’s okay to switch it up if the basic story is untouched. I found myself skimming through most of this book; a lot of the dialogue seemed unnecessary and took away from the heart of the story. Of course, through reading myth retellings and basically just being alive and exposed to a lot of things inspired by the Odyssey, I already knew the basic story, so I felt like I wasn’t missing much from skimming.
So, I wish it was chronological but I understand this pays homage to bards..but as it is Odysseus retelling his story, he could have possibly twisted it a little. I love how myth retellings expand on this idea. I’m not sorry to say I like retellings more. The whole point is that these stories are told over and over again and often get changed.
I was impressed that Athena seems to be the real hero of the story; I didn’t realize how much of a role she played. I guess modern interpretations and books and movies based off the original want you to think the men are the real heroes and victors. She does so much to ensure Odysseus’ homecoming and I like that.
So, I wish it was chronological but I understand this pays homage to bards..but as it is Odysseus retelling his story, he could have possibly twisted it a little. I love how myth retellings expand on this idea. I’m not sorry to say I like retellings more. The whole point is that these stories are told over and over again and often get changed.
I was impressed that Athena seems to be the real hero of the story; I didn’t realize how much of a role she played. I guess modern interpretations and books and movies based off the original want you to think the men are the real heroes and victors. She does so much to ensure Odysseus’ homecoming and I like that.
April 1, 2023
Upon completion of what is often heralded as the (Western mind’s) Greatest Adventure Tale, I have no reason to disagree with that assessment.
War hardened hero of unrivaled reknown battles fate, divinities and all manner of terrors and traitors in an unrelenting quest to make it home and finally reunite with his beloved wife, son and father.
I found each of the “verses” (chapters) to be delightfully detailed, captivating, engaging and often thrilling. All the scenes played out like a movie in my mind’s eye. You can also see an exhausting amount of storylines that appear in later writings, from David & Goliath to Lord of The Rings through the Marvel Universe and everything in between.
W.H.D. Rouse’s translation seemed very fluid and natural, with the exception of the rare use of Great Depression Era vernacular such as “vittles”, “shameless huzzies” and “out yonder”, which would break my concentration and give ne a smirk.
I read The Odyssey first and will return to the Iliad later. Some would say this is backwards but that is the order which Rouse translated them.
I would appreciate any comparisons to other translations.
War hardened hero of unrivaled reknown battles fate, divinities and all manner of terrors and traitors in an unrelenting quest to make it home and finally reunite with his beloved wife, son and father.
I found each of the “verses” (chapters) to be delightfully detailed, captivating, engaging and often thrilling. All the scenes played out like a movie in my mind’s eye. You can also see an exhausting amount of storylines that appear in later writings, from David & Goliath to Lord of The Rings through the Marvel Universe and everything in between.
W.H.D. Rouse’s translation seemed very fluid and natural, with the exception of the rare use of Great Depression Era vernacular such as “vittles”, “shameless huzzies” and “out yonder”, which would break my concentration and give ne a smirk.
I read The Odyssey first and will return to the Iliad later. Some would say this is backwards but that is the order which Rouse translated them.
I would appreciate any comparisons to other translations.
March 4, 2024
The Odyssey, or at least this specific version of it, is one of the most repetitive and long drawn out books I have ever had the displeasure to read. The story of his journey is repeated countless times. I understand that this his journey is exactly the point of the book, but I honestly feel that the message would have still gotten across if you were to remove over 200 pages of this dreadful book. The most baffling part is that the story of the journey itself isn't all that lengthy to warrant this many pages. There were some interesting parts of this book, but I stand by the fact that it should have been a lot shorter. Hell, even Margaret George's short retelling of Odysseus' journey in Helen of Troy could have sufficed. It was interesting to learn more about Odysseus and his interactions with the nymph Calypso the first time, but every time it was repeatedly mentioned thereafter, I would audibly groan. After the first 100 pages, it was a pain to get through every page and I am so glad that I finally finished it because that means I never have to read this bore of a book ever again.
November 9, 2025
Having slogged through The Iliad, where I felt like I was wading through endless grumbling of big, strong men offended by everything and constantly at war, I approached The Odyssey with low expectations. What a revelation!
Rouse’s translation makes Odysseus’s journey gripping. From Kalypso to the Cyclops, from Hades to Circe and the pigs, the story is full of suspense, cleverness, and danger. The human scheming—men trying to marry Odysseus’s wife while he’s away—adds layers of tension and stakes. It’s a very different pace and tone from the Iliad, almost cinematic in its adventures.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and couldn’t put it down. It makes me wonder how much of the difference in experience is due to Rouse’s translation—he captures the drama, humor, and cunning of the story beautifully. A must-read for anyone curious about epic tales of adventure.
Rouse’s translation makes Odysseus’s journey gripping. From Kalypso to the Cyclops, from Hades to Circe and the pigs, the story is full of suspense, cleverness, and danger. The human scheming—men trying to marry Odysseus’s wife while he’s away—adds layers of tension and stakes. It’s a very different pace and tone from the Iliad, almost cinematic in its adventures.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and couldn’t put it down. It makes me wonder how much of the difference in experience is due to Rouse’s translation—he captures the drama, humor, and cunning of the story beautifully. A must-read for anyone curious about epic tales of adventure.
March 28, 2024
An exciting story of adventure, romance, and revenge, but maybe not quite everything I'd hoped it to be. I think I'm just not a fan of Homer's writing, or maybe it's the translation that's a bad one. It's very redundant, often having one character repeat exactly what another character just said a few paragraphs or pages ago, instead of just saying "he went and told him just that." I would also get whiplash going from our current tale into a story within a story and sometimes two or three stories deep before getting pulled right back out into the current story again, sometimes wholly forgetting what had been going on before the side-story (or two or three) occurred. Anyway, the writing definitely took some getting used to, but in the end it was an enjoyable tale.
March 1, 2024
I wanted to read more about greek mythology after reading The Songs of Achilles by Madeline Miller.
This was a great telling of Odessey’s journey back home after the Trojan War and the trials and tribulations that he had suffered. Known as a man of wits and intelligence, with his mind and words - he is a compelling character to read about - not without mentioning his flaws. As seen in the story when he blinded Cyclops and boasted about it, revealing his name - which led to Poseidon’s vengeance, preventing him and his fellow companions from returning back home.
His son, Telemachus, nearing the stage of manhood, had also his fair share of voyages, roaming about the seas to find his father. In a sense it is also about his coming-of- age story, learning how to speak and behave among his elders (of which he is successful at like his father), as well as accomplishing something of himself.
Other interesting characters in this book would be Athena, which has been the sole reason why Odessey was able to make it back home to Ithica in the first place, assisting him along the way. As well as Penelope, who has shown incredible devotion and loyalty towards Odyssey.
Will look for other translated copies of this book.
Other than that, great book! Although the descriptions of Odessey’s travels at sea could get quite lengthy at times.
This was a great telling of Odessey’s journey back home after the Trojan War and the trials and tribulations that he had suffered. Known as a man of wits and intelligence, with his mind and words - he is a compelling character to read about - not without mentioning his flaws. As seen in the story when he blinded Cyclops and boasted about it, revealing his name - which led to Poseidon’s vengeance, preventing him and his fellow companions from returning back home.
His son, Telemachus, nearing the stage of manhood, had also his fair share of voyages, roaming about the seas to find his father. In a sense it is also about his coming-of- age story, learning how to speak and behave among his elders (of which he is successful at like his father), as well as accomplishing something of himself.
Other interesting characters in this book would be Athena, which has been the sole reason why Odessey was able to make it back home to Ithica in the first place, assisting him along the way. As well as Penelope, who has shown incredible devotion and loyalty towards Odyssey.
Will look for other translated copies of this book.
Other than that, great book! Although the descriptions of Odessey’s travels at sea could get quite lengthy at times.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2024
This is a great inro translation. It's very straightforward and doesn't try to make it poetry. I read this to my kids (ages 5, 9, and 11) over the summer, and even the 5 year old enjoyed it with the older kids begging to read it. Granted, I did a lot of leg work to be able to stop and explain things, which helped their understanding. I highly recommend the Greatest Courses lecture by Vandiver for a better understanding.
August 19, 2024
With 60+ translations available to the modern reader, this is an excellent place to start with The Odyssey, as it is not so much of a translation as a paraphrase. Highly readable, it remains true to the tale in a more casual-reader/introductory fashion. There are more prosaic examples but if you’re looking for a one-and-done for the sake of familiarity, I highly recommend this—until Stephen Fry adds it to his catalogue.
March 29, 2025
Yes I picked up the book again after going through Epic: The Musical.
I think I can disregard some pacing issues throughout the story to account for the amount of aura this story has which has allowed it to last all these millennium. Some of the more famous aspects of the story aren't given as much time as modern adaptations have but the amount of worldbuilding that you get for the culture (particularly host-guest relations and worshipping deities) is pretty cool.
Full Speed ahead!!
I think I can disregard some pacing issues throughout the story to account for the amount of aura this story has which has allowed it to last all these millennium. Some of the more famous aspects of the story aren't given as much time as modern adaptations have but the amount of worldbuilding that you get for the culture (particularly host-guest relations and worshipping deities) is pretty cool.
Full Speed ahead!!
September 10, 2025
I can see how this book can be turned into a movie if done correctly, focusing more on the trials and tribulations of Odysseus rather than the story telling of past events like this book reads. I found myself spacing out at points as this dragged on longer than necessary. Odysseus is such a story teller that holds himself in such high regard, even though the real hero of this story is Athena, who helped him immensely on his journey home.
December 8, 2025
nothing quite like getting emotional while reading a book written in like 8th century BC - the bit where he bumps into his mother in the underworld really got me, along w the entire homecoming in general. would love to see a madeline miller-like take on penelope tho, she's already got some interesting characterization here so I'd be v curious to see what a focus on her time in mourning (or even before odysseus leaves) would look like
Read
January 11, 2022I hadn't read the Odyssey since high school (Fitzgerald translation), and decided to refresh my memory by listening to the audiobook translated by Rouse and read by Anthony Heald. It was an enjoyable and very accessible translation, and the narration was very good. It made me want to revisit Fitzgerald and dive into other translations of the Odyssey.
March 10, 2023
DNF at 30%. I think it's partially that this translation really not to my taste, but I'm finding this a lot less interesting than the Iliad. I might try another translation at some point because I've enjoyed a lot of adaptations of this work, but the original is kind of boring me, at least in this form. It's way more begats than I anticipated and the audiobook narrator is absolutely lifeless too.
September 14, 2023
I still prefer Emily Wilson’s translation, but this prose translation was an enjoyable read. Some of the translation choices were interesting, such as having the characters use “go to the devil” as a curse (a rather anachronistic decision by Rouse), and having the ‘good’ slave characters speak like peasants from a 19th century British novel.
November 30, 2023
Not bad for 3k years ago. Surprisingly gory. Lots of brains leaking out of skulls and people being torn apart. I read all the best parts of this in middle/high school:the cyclops, the sirens, Scylla and charybdis, and the final battle. I probably could have skipped this tbh. But glad I can say I finally read the whole thing.
January 2, 2026
Rouse was the first to translate The Iliad and The Odyssey into plain English, in a style far more faithful to the original greek which was simply a written record of an oral tradition. His style of prose and especially his choice of words is delectable. Goggle-eye, had he still sight, would approve!
May 7, 2022
Listened to an audiobook version of this translation. It was pretty good. Classic story, but a little bloody for my general tastes. I'm teaching an abridged version of the Odyssey and was lamenting how much was left out, but at least my freshmen get a taste of this epic poem.
August 26, 2024
I plan to read the physical book at some point in the future. The narrator made me want to curl up and fall asleep every time I listened to this, which meant I had a very hard time focusing on the story. I wouldn’t recommend this for people who are not interested in Greek Mythology.
May 10, 2019
Great epic of the ancient times but hard to remember many characters, mainly gods. Wonderful work of ancient times.
December 11, 2021
Not too shabby for a 2800 year old book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews