The Odyssey

Homer's The Odyssey tells of Odysseus and his lengthy voyage back to Ithaca after the Trojan War. A resourceful man, he is forced to roam far and wide, seeing many lands and learning how their peoples think, while enduring great suffering at sea as he tries to survive and bring his companions home safely. He encounters dangers such as the Cyclops's cave, the Sirens's call and an unfriendly welcome in his own land. This edition presents Martin Hammond's prose translation.

Why You Should Read?

• Follow Odysseus as he wanders far and long on his way back from Troy.
• Meet the dangers he faces, such as the Cyclops's cave and the Sirens's call.
• Explore the poem's themes of homecoming, resourcefulness and the hardships suffered at sea.
• Enjoy Martin Hammond's prose translation, which gives life to Homer's poem of homecoming.

About the Author

Homer was an ancient Greek poet, possibly born around the 8th century BC, who is traditionally credited with writing the Iliad and the Odyssey, two epic poems foundational to ancient Greek literature. He was greatly revered in ancient Greek society and is considered among the most influential authors in history. Debate continues over who he was and whether he existed, known as the Homeric Question, and scholars generally hold that the two poems had separate authors.