The Odyssey (Oxford World's Classics) [Paperback]

Homer (Author), Walter Shewring (Translator), G. S. Kirk (Introduction)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0192833758 | ISBN-13: 978-0192833754 | Publication Date: May 28, 1998

The first English prose translation of Homer's The Odyssey to appear in over thirty years, Shewring's translation comes as close to the spirit of the original Greek as our language will allow.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This would be an appropriate selection--for the literature, for the myth--and what a wonderful time my students and I could have finding depictions in the visual arts."--Professor Dixie Durham, Chapman University

"This is a wonderful translation....This should be the Odyssey of choice when translations are read in college courses."--Mark Taylor, Manhattan College

"A fine, inexpensive prose adaptation."--John Thomas, University of Iowa

Language Notes

Text: English, Greek (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (May 28, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0192833758
• ISBN-13: 978-0192833754
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,786,437 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Homer was probably born around 725BC on the Coast of Asia Minor, now the coast of Turkey, but then really a part of Greece. Homer was the first Greek writer whose work survives.

He was one of a long line of bards, or poets, who worked in the oral tradition. Homer and other bards of the time could recite, or chant, long epic poems.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Lukewarm version in my opinion, June 29, 2008

By 

Ryan Kouroukis "In 1882 Richard Wagner said: ... - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Odyssey (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback)

I spent quite a while comparing versions of the Odyssey. I tried this one for a short while before I ended up with my favorite...the Rieu! (2002 reprint/revised edition).

What I like about Shewring's version is the poetic and imaginative strength he brings at times (but not throughout) to the reader. The other thing I liked was the Font style.

What I didn't like was his modern stale middle of the road intellectualism. Because of his choice of wording in sentences, it lacks the raciness and grip the story NEEDS!

- Try it out for yourself, compare a few different versions and see which one resonates with you more!