The Odyssey (Penguin Classics)

Ever since Nolan announced he's making a movie on this I wanted to read the source material. The book is cheap paperback and very nice

I'll be honest, my first experience of the basic story or the odyssey was watching 'Homer's Odyyssey' on the simpsons! But having seen a glimpse of the idea of the story when I was younger I vowed to one day read the real version. I'm glad I did and this penguin version in my opinion is the best way to get to understand the story whether you are into literature or not. The odyssey is a poem and many translators have done excellent jobs of translating the text into English while keeping it a poem. However translating into a poem can not only sometimes lose some of the real story but can also alienate those who would like to know the story but can't deal with an epic poem. This is why this book is so great! The penguin version has been translated into a story, like reading a novel. This makes it incredibly easy to understand the plot and draws you so much more into the story. The language used is also very easy to read and understand. Being a penguin book just like with wordsworth classics these books have little notes, whenever there's something that might not be understood by someone reading it they have added a helpful note, this makes reading it even easier. And when you are done with the story itself there is even to read at, where experts have added information (like the stuff you'd read if you were studying at school). The story itself is very interesting, I won't give anything away and other reviewers have certainly added a lot about this but I will say that if you want to find out about this classic but aren't into the poetry aspect then this penguin version is definitely for you. I'd also recommend the illiad, written in the same format but set earlier, that book is every bit as readable as this one. The only hiccup in the story of the odyssey for me was right at the end. The ending seemed a bit off (the notes explain why) but I did feel a little dissatisfied by the ending, but that's just my personal opinion and doesn't change how great this book is.

Gifting read

N/a

Just purchased translations of The Odyssey and The Iliad by E.V. Rieu and, though some of the reviews incline to the slightly negative, I can only disagree. Both books (transitions) are absolutely fine; excellently written so that the prose style emulates the poetry of the originals; extended Introductions, outlining changes made, and why these were needed and considered improvements; and The Iliad, for me the more complex of the two stories (epics), begins each chapter with a hugely helpful, summarised numbered outline of what is to follow, making the reading of the text much more accessible. True, there may be better translations out there. Personally I can’t really say; but for me these two books read beautifully and I’m totally pleased with my purchase and would recommend them to others who wish to get a taste of these wonderful stories in an engaging, readable format. I hope you find my review helpful.

I first read The Odyssey about 60 years ago when a new translation by E. V. Rieu was much publicised and available from Penguin. As a teenager I enjoyed it very much as an adventure story, about which I had heard. I have quite a few books and was confident that my copy was 'somewhere' when I recommended the Odyssey to a readers group to which I belong; it was accepted and added to the list and came up this last month. I could not find my copy; the library could not obtain a 'Rieu' copy, in time, so I visited my friendly Amazon website. I found the Rieu was still available but, in addition to the original, a later version is available that has been slightly revised by the son of E.V.; I ordered and have read it again. Although I read with a lifetime of experience behind me I really enjoyed it once again. This time, however, I have both the introduction by E V from 1946 and a DCHR Preface of 2002, which begins with'My Father E. V. ...' in which the son, DCHR, later refers to his father as EVR. It is obvious that both Father and Son love and respect Homer. Read the story and then the DCHR Preface followed by the PVJ Introduction with His analysis of the construction of the 'plot' and why it is arranged in the way that it is. Finally, I learned that the EVR translation gave us the very first book in the Penguin Classics series. A Really Fine package; you will be glad to own and treasure it. Just do not mislay it, you never know ...!

Good read. The story is a bit far-fetched. All Greek to me. But I think it will be a success.

I bought this for my classics lesson, however it did come a bit damaged. Nothing that would stop me from reading of course but the cover of the book has scrapes all around the edges as well as the sides where it has been scratched off, a little disappointed that a new book looks old but otherwise, happy with the e purchase.

Classic Book couldread it any time and I’m happy to find it for free an Amazon

Iam writing this after completing two chapters. This is an absolute classic that everyone must read it once in their lifetime. Paper quality is good and gives authentic feel of bookreading. Loved it

Beklediğim gibi....

Returned Book Due to Damage – Pages Were Torn I returned a book I received the very next day because several pages were torn. The item was listed as new, so I was surprised to find it in that condition. Utterly disappointing:( and it has been more than 6 days now i have not received by refund.

Homer's Odysseus is a vitally basic work of world literature, but oh, so confusing as reading experience. Over ten years ago I read a poem-version Finnish translversi of it in a reading group. Notes from that and these are like made from two different books. In the Finnish translation Greek-derived names of people and gods has been used, here instead Latin-based. This in itself is confusing for the inconvenience, until you get used to it. Another difference is thitinstead verse translation and this outspoken, yet somehow poetic-bound unusual prose text. The work and activity, the general course of events is quite clear, as long as it is kept in mind that they are not told as events as they occur, but afterwardas as a travel account. Here a terrible number of people and gods are included. Only a limited number of activities and a vague impression of the importance of things fasten in mind. When reading you cannot avoid comparing life now and then. Odyssian life seems to be concentrated to more essential things than is our life. Just eating, drinking, dressing, and homemaking get more attention than in our life. All the action is in every respect more grandiose than it is now. People are gathered in big numbers. Whole pigs will be eaten, a lot of washing, rough behavior. Fighting for petty reasons, ruthless killing, but also generous treating: clothes, lavish gifts are given. The difference in the relationship between man and god is really great. This of course, because of the fundamental difference between the polytheistic and monotheistic religions. We have only one God who is behind everything and decides everything perfectly. Ulysse's gods are many and they are dedicated to specific issues. There are contradictions between the gods and not just between people and in human relations to the gods. But the gods are also closer to the people and behave like people. While here man is created as image of God, Odyssian gods are vice versa enlarged pictures of man. Are there any books to which this unique story could be compared? Yes, to similar works of polytheistic worldview, such as the Kalevala, which also describes a journey, Sampo robbery and acquiring it back to its original use as the source of general well-being. Because the world of the Kalevala is more human and refined, it is in my eyes more appealing than the heights of mountains and jagged environments of Odyssean world. Although the plot is clear and justified, a question remains: Why does not Odysseus straight away go to meet Penelope? So would a hero of our world undoubtedly have done. However, no way avoiding full five stars, mainly for the clarity and great features of the plot.