Odyssey: Hackett Classics

Homer is the name ascribed by the Ancient Greeks to the semi-legendary author of the two epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey, the central works of Greek literature. Many accounts of Homer's life circulated in classical antiquity, the most widespread being that he was a blind bard from Ionia, a region of central coastal Anatolia in present-day Turkey. The importance of Homer to the ancient Greeks is described in Plato's Republic, where he is referred to as the protos didaskalos, "first teacher", of tragedy, the hegemon paideias, "leader of learning" and the one who ten Hellada pepaideuken, "has taught Greece". Homer's works, which are about fifty percent speeches, provided models in persuasive speaking and writing that were emulated throughout the ancient and medieval Greek worlds. Fragments of Homer account for nearly half of all identifiable Greek literary papyrus finds in Egypt.

Authoritative prose translation by Martin Hammond, translator of the Penguin Classics edition of the Iliad

Preface Introduction by Jasper Griffin Suggestions for further reading A note on the Greek text Book I: The Gods, Athene and Telemachos Book II: Telemachos and the Suitors Book III: Telemachos in Pylos Book IV: Telemachos in Sparta Book V: Odysseus and Kalypso Book VI: Nausikaa Book VII: Odysseus in Phaiacia Book VIII: Phaiacian Games and Song Book IX: The Cyclops Book X: Kirke Book XI: The Underworld Book XII: Skylla and Charybdis Book XIII: Return to Ithaka Book XIV: Odysseus and Eumaios Book XV: Telemachos Returns Book XVI: Odysseus and Telemachos Book XVII: Odysseus Comes to His House Book XVIII: Odysseus As Beggar Book XIX: Eurykleia Recognises Odysseus Book XX: Insults and Omens Book XXI: The Trial of the Bow Book XXII: The Suitors Killed Book XXIII: Odysseus and Penelope Book XXIV: The Underworld, Laertes, Peace Index

An excellent version... it may well prove the translation for this and the next generation.
Hammond's admirable translation..is remarkably successful in combining accuracy with a lively and highly readable style
Martin Hammond's new version is clearly a labour of love and a wonderful achievement as it has none [of the faults of other versions] and although it is in prose, if read aloud the prose transforms itself into poetry. It is as close to the Greek as it is possible to get and keeps all the formulaic patterns so that the music of the original shines out and rings in the ear...It is instilled with magic Mediterranean light...I have now read it seven times and find I get more from each re-reading
Hammond's precise and highly readable translation embraces not only the immediate human appeal of the Odyssey but also much of what is alien to modern literary culture: 'modes of speech, insistent narrative sequencing, the wealth of formulaic repetition' ... [It] offers Anglophone readers a faithful and direct experience of the style and manner of Homer's great poem.
Overall this is a highly professional production, to be seriously considered for textbook use in the classroom.
Hammond succeeds admirably in presenting a translation that is easy and enjoyable to read and faithful to Homer
This is a magnificent piece of work..I enjoyed reading [Hammond's] Odyssey enormously. It is more years than I care to think since I read the work from end to end. Hammond's translation moved me to do so within a day, and that is a tribute indeed. This is a first-class work which should give pleasure to both those who read Greek and those who do not - and deserves to attract many to read Homer for whom that is as yet a pleasure in store