[(The Odyssey translated by E.V.Rieu)] [ By (author) Homer, Translated by E.V. Rieu, Revised by Dominic Rieu, Introduction by Peter Jones ] [January, 2003]

Learning about the dreams of our ancient ancestors

(As above.)

My daughter needed this for her studies.

I read this after reading his translation of the Iliad.This gives more insights to the lives of ancient Greeks and what were seen as important. Odysseus is a bit of a scalawag, to quote Emily Wilson.Anyone interested in the roots of European culture should read this, and it's very readable. I learnt from this something I'd either forgotten, or, probably, never knew; that Greeks were very big on the importance of hospitality - to strangers, even beggars.I liked the use of epithets (white armed Here, flashing eyed Athena) and people having real characters rather than just name. The scene in the underworld (dread Persephone) is very moving. No real after life, just ghosts wandering around. Listen to Achilles (worshipped for a thousand years!) describe the difference between life and endurance of the underworld.I'm now going to read Emily Wilson's verse translation, which I'm already enjoying. Update. it was great and I'll review it separately.

This book is a superb read. Not only is the story a thrilling one, but this prose translation of Homer's epic by E V Rieu uniquely maintains the flow and lyricism of Homer's original poetry. The reader is drawn deeply into the ancient Greek world of thousands of years ago.

Perfect for high school students studying the classics