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The Odyssey II
After ten long years of war Troy is finally destroyed and the besieging Greeks depart for home. Odysseus and his men set sail for Ithaca, but their journey is far from easy. Captured by Cyclops then detained by the nymph Calypso, it is only after a visit to the underworld and a miraculous escape from the witch Circe that Odysseus finally regains his island kingdom. But many years have passed since he was last there, and things are not as he left them.
455 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 701
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 9, 2026
Part II. A Homecoming (poesia #16)
Odysseus comes home and finds out that suitors want to marry his wife and take over his land. His father is an old man, confined to weeping and his garden. His mother is dead, weeping for a son who never came home. Why not, the man has been gone twenty years. His son, is now a man but no match for them. By some accounts there are at least 50 of them. It’s a daunting task.
What does a crafty man do? Hey, don’t forget he has Athena to help out. Disguise himself as a beggar. Hide all the Phaeacian gifts. Get some folks on his side. Okay, one guy. Eumaeus a swine herd. But don’t reveal a thing. Weave a whale of a tale. How about two? Telemachus, his son. Reveal something but test, test, test. His dog Argos? He knows him but it’s a bit late, for the dog that is. His old nurse maid Eurycleia? She knows a secret or two, doesn’t she? His wife Penelope? Nope, weave a tale but keep her in the dark. Don’t worry, she gets even.
Wait a minute. Hasn’t Penelope been weaving a shroud for Laertes, father of Odysseus? And every night unweave it. Maybe she has her own plan. Timing is everything.
Every night the suitors drink and eat away his food and wine, slowly his home is diminishing. They demand an answer right now. She has a plan. Whoever can string the bow of Odysseus and send an arrow through twelve double axes to a target will have my hand. Sounds easy. The bow was given to Odysseus by Iphetus, son of Eurytus. Herakles killed Iphetus because he broke the xenia gifts exchange. Odysseus never took the bow to Troy, leaving it to honour his dead friend. Good thing, good plan.
A broken xenia? Whenever a stranger comes to a door, the ancient Greeks always hosted them fearing that it could be a god in disguise. Give them your best wine, best food and give them a parting gift as well. It’s a good system as you made friends in a world that seemed unfriendly. The suitors abused this custom, showing up everyday to be fed. Hospitality knows no end for them. It’s really broken.
As you can imagine, when the beggar (Odysseus) is the only one to string his own bow, trouble ensues. He wants his home back no matter what and they will pay the price. As most can guess, the ending is very violent in a time of violence. The rule of law was set by these lords of their estates but there are some great ethical questions that arise.
Does adding more violence resolve violence? If one kills the suitors, won’t their families be enraged? Is violence perpetual? When does it stop? What can you do when your name means “man of wrath?” Perhaps the gods might have something to do about this?
Here is the short of it. A man returns home after many years to find his house broken and he needs to get it back in order, no matter what the costs. His legacy must endure. Can a story be retold for literally thousands of years and still stand the test of time? The answer is a resounding yes.
Odysseus comes home and finds out that suitors want to marry his wife and take over his land. His father is an old man, confined to weeping and his garden. His mother is dead, weeping for a son who never came home. Why not, the man has been gone twenty years. His son, is now a man but no match for them. By some accounts there are at least 50 of them. It’s a daunting task.
What does a crafty man do? Hey, don’t forget he has Athena to help out. Disguise himself as a beggar. Hide all the Phaeacian gifts. Get some folks on his side. Okay, one guy. Eumaeus a swine herd. But don’t reveal a thing. Weave a whale of a tale. How about two? Telemachus, his son. Reveal something but test, test, test. His dog Argos? He knows him but it’s a bit late, for the dog that is. His old nurse maid Eurycleia? She knows a secret or two, doesn’t she? His wife Penelope? Nope, weave a tale but keep her in the dark. Don’t worry, she gets even.
Wait a minute. Hasn’t Penelope been weaving a shroud for Laertes, father of Odysseus? And every night unweave it. Maybe she has her own plan. Timing is everything.
Every night the suitors drink and eat away his food and wine, slowly his home is diminishing. They demand an answer right now. She has a plan. Whoever can string the bow of Odysseus and send an arrow through twelve double axes to a target will have my hand. Sounds easy. The bow was given to Odysseus by Iphetus, son of Eurytus. Herakles killed Iphetus because he broke the xenia gifts exchange. Odysseus never took the bow to Troy, leaving it to honour his dead friend. Good thing, good plan.
A broken xenia? Whenever a stranger comes to a door, the ancient Greeks always hosted them fearing that it could be a god in disguise. Give them your best wine, best food and give them a parting gift as well. It’s a good system as you made friends in a world that seemed unfriendly. The suitors abused this custom, showing up everyday to be fed. Hospitality knows no end for them. It’s really broken.
As you can imagine, when the beggar (Odysseus) is the only one to string his own bow, trouble ensues. He wants his home back no matter what and they will pay the price. As most can guess, the ending is very violent in a time of violence. The rule of law was set by these lords of their estates but there are some great ethical questions that arise.
Does adding more violence resolve violence? If one kills the suitors, won’t their families be enraged? Is violence perpetual? When does it stop? What can you do when your name means “man of wrath?” Perhaps the gods might have something to do about this?
Here is the short of it. A man returns home after many years to find his house broken and he needs to get it back in order, no matter what the costs. His legacy must endure. Can a story be retold for literally thousands of years and still stand the test of time? The answer is a resounding yes.
December 31, 2025
The well-woven tale about a man’s striving to get home to his wife and son, among all the toils and troubles that prevent him, follows the conclusion of the Iliad. And once he does arrive home, Odyssyeus’ work is not yet done. Everyone should read his story at least once, if only to understand all the references and allusions which come up in countless other places. It is one of the three ancient epic stories that define the genre of “epic.”
Murray’s translation reads well and is not ‘sugar-coated’ for modern readers (or preteen readers, which other translations may be more suited for). Having the (Homeric) Greek on the facing page to glance at is helpful (a mark of the Loeb series). Other than the small font, one will find it hard to criticize much in quality of the Loeb Classical Library.
Murray’s translation reads well and is not ‘sugar-coated’ for modern readers (or preteen readers, which other translations may be more suited for). Having the (Homeric) Greek on the facing page to glance at is helpful (a mark of the Loeb series). Other than the small font, one will find it hard to criticize much in quality of the Loeb Classical Library.
January 22, 2026
I need to know Odysseus’s anti-aging routine
November 11, 2020
A clear text and an accurate translation, but very little help is given to the reader in the way of footnotes. There would have been room for many notes in the blank spaces at the foot of the pages carrying the English translation. A note such as "See Oxford Commentary, vol. III, pp. 143-45" as given on p. 341 is of little use to the general reader. (The publisher's price for the Oxford Commentary is $306.)
January 3, 2026
A veure que barbàrie fa Nolan
March 1, 2025
«Com de benvinguda la terra apareix als qui neden, quan enmig del gran mar Posidó la nau ben obrada els ha romput, escomesa pel vent i per l'ona compacta; i són pocs que han fugit del salobre canut a la riba, nedant, i se'ls ha fet a la pell un crostís de salura; i amb alegria petgen la terra, escapats de desgràcia: tan benvingut era, doncs, per a ella l'espòs, i el mirava i no sabia llevar-li els dos braços blancs de la testa.»
Un clàssic ineludible. I de totes les traduccions que he llegit, la de Carles Riba és sens dubte la millor.
Un clàssic ineludible. I de totes les traduccions que he llegit, la de Carles Riba és sens dubte la millor.
October 1, 2017
As in the Iliad, humans are often mere playthings for the disputing gods. Odysseus arrives home at last and kills lots of people, most of whose worst crimes seem to be that they are arrogant, rude boors who have no second thoughts about eating him out of house and home while they wait for Penelope to agree to marry one of them. Odysseus gives mercy and empathy short shrift.
July 11, 2012
If I were to retell this story, I'd focus on Eumaeus, and call it "The Noble Swineherd."
November 14, 2018
I read the second half of the Odyssey with new eyes this time, thanks to my recent reading of Albert Lord's "The Singer of Tales." Lord and his mentor, Milman Perry, recorded hundreds of Slavic bards singing traditional tales. In his book, Lord then compared several different variations of a similar theme, where a man returns home in disguise after a long imprisonment/absence. In essence, this is the story of Books 13-24 of the Odyssey. We are thus more distant from any historical basis in the events of the Trojan War and closer to what seems to be a common folk motif across cultures.
Throughout this part of the poem, Homer's depiction of all the characters, even the most minor, is excellent. We get Eumaios, the noble swineherd who welcomes Odysseus even when he appears to be a wretched beggar. Then there are the various suitors of Penelope, who are carefully differentiated in their degrees of awfulness. And of course there's Penelope herself, who has stood out for so long against the pressures of the suitors, and has trouble trusting her own eyes when her husband finally returns. To me the highlights among the many recognition scenes, where characters realize who Odysseus is, are the aged nurse, Eurycleia, who notices an old scar on his leg; and best of all, the dog Argos, who like Odysseus himself has fallen on hard times, yet sees through the rags to recognize his master. What an amazing poet who created this scene, which will touch the heart of any dog lover.
It was bittersweet to reach the end of the Odyssey. I have now finished Homer's two epics. But I am excited for my next project, which will be my first encounter with Hesiod. And then I'll come back to the "Homeric" Hymns, which most likely come from a later time.
Throughout this part of the poem, Homer's depiction of all the characters, even the most minor, is excellent. We get Eumaios, the noble swineherd who welcomes Odysseus even when he appears to be a wretched beggar. Then there are the various suitors of Penelope, who are carefully differentiated in their degrees of awfulness. And of course there's Penelope herself, who has stood out for so long against the pressures of the suitors, and has trouble trusting her own eyes when her husband finally returns. To me the highlights among the many recognition scenes, where characters realize who Odysseus is, are the aged nurse, Eurycleia, who notices an old scar on his leg; and best of all, the dog Argos, who like Odysseus himself has fallen on hard times, yet sees through the rags to recognize his master. What an amazing poet who created this scene, which will touch the heart of any dog lover.
It was bittersweet to reach the end of the Odyssey. I have now finished Homer's two epics. But I am excited for my next project, which will be my first encounter with Hesiod. And then I'll come back to the "Homeric" Hymns, which most likely come from a later time.
August 15, 2024
Al igual que l'Ilíada, l'Odissea és un dels grans clàssics de l'antiguitat que ens han llegat fins als nostres dies, oferint una obra excepcional tant per la informació que ens brinda de l'època (el paper de la dona, les localitzacions...) com també per la qualitat narrativa de l'obra.
Tot i que preferiria un apartat de notes al peu, com en l'altra col·lecció de Bernat Metge, però l'edició bilingüe i el fet que hagin rescatat la traducció de Carles Riba és, simplement, perfecte.
Tot i que preferiria un apartat de notes al peu, com en l'altra col·lecció de Bernat Metge, però l'edició bilingüe i el fet que hagin rescatat la traducció de Carles Riba és, simplement, perfecte.
January 10, 2026
Never had such a good time with an author. I think the best approach to the Odyssey is to read it as a fairy tale. Although the scenes everyone knows are all in the first half (~ books 5-12) I liked the second half better, it deserves way more praise.
Great translation by Murray, but very few notes. I recommend an additional commentary.
I will "return" to it very soon.
Great translation by Murray, but very few notes. I recommend an additional commentary.
I will "return" to it very soon.
February 21, 2025
2,5
Ulisses, no aconseguiran mai que em caiguis bé.
Punt positiu per la traducció del Carles Riba.
Ulisses, no aconseguiran mai que em caiguis bé.
Punt positiu per la traducció del Carles Riba.
April 30, 2026
This is a wonderful story that I could learn more about Odysseus' travels after the Trojan War. An epic book for you folks to read!!
September 4, 2026
A very gruesome end to the journey home but one that gives us a sense of the values of the time. Literally a classic.
December 9, 2023
ὡς δὲ κύων ἀμαλῇσι περὶ σκυλάκεσσι βεβῶσα
ἄνδρʼ ἀγνοιήσασʼ ὑλάει μέμονέν τε μάχεσθαι,
ὥς ῥα τοῦ ἔνδον ὑλάκτει ἀγαιομένου κακὰ ἔργα·
στῆθος δὲ πλήξας κραδίην ἠνίπαπε μύθῳ·
“τέτλαθι δή, κραδίη· καὶ κύντερον ἄλλο ποτʼ ἔτλης.
ἤματι τῷ ὅτε μοι μένος ἄσχετος ἤσθιε Κύκλωψ
ἰφθίμους ἑτάρους· σὺ δʼ ἐτόλμας, ὄφρα σε μῆτις
ἐξάγαγʼ ἐξ ἄντροιο ὀϊόμενον θανέεσθαι.”
ἄνδρʼ ἀγνοιήσασʼ ὑλάει μέμονέν τε μάχεσθαι,
ὥς ῥα τοῦ ἔνδον ὑλάκτει ἀγαιομένου κακὰ ἔργα·
στῆθος δὲ πλήξας κραδίην ἠνίπαπε μύθῳ·
“τέτλαθι δή, κραδίη· καὶ κύντερον ἄλλο ποτʼ ἔτλης.
ἤματι τῷ ὅτε μοι μένος ἄσχετος ἤσθιε Κύκλωψ
ἰφθίμους ἑτάρους· σὺ δʼ ἐτόλμας, ὄφρα σε μῆτις
ἐξάγαγʼ ἐξ ἄντροιο ὀϊόμενον θανέεσθαι.”
July 20, 2014
Firstly i haven't read this edition but couldnt find the one i have read. Still really interesting too read the classics and see in them the basis for almost every story or film that you'll ever read. really enjoyed reading this.
January 7, 2015
Along with the rest of Homer this is essential reading for knowing much more than simply the journey of a heroe after The Trojan War, this represents the origins of the classics and from that what our literature and stories are all about.
May 24, 2007
Loved the detail, the prose, and the chance to delve into a bit of ancient Greek fiction. One of the inspirations to our modern fantasy.
March 12, 2014
It's good, but it's sooooooooooo long. It's also a really old dorm of writing, and can be difficult to follow.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews