Other editions of book The Odyssey

The Odyssey is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is, in part, a sequel to the Iliad, the other work ascribed to Homer. The poem is fundamental to the modern Western canon, and is the second oldest extant work of Western literature, the Iliad being the oldest. It is believed to have been composed near the end of the 8th century BC, somewhere in Ionia, the Greek coastal region of Anatolia.

HarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics.‘Alas that mortalsShould blame the gods! From us, they say,All evils come. Yet they themselvesIt is who through defiant deedsBring sorrow on them-far more sorrowThan fate would have them bear.’Attributed to the blind Greek poet, Homer, The Odyssey is an epic tale about cunning and strength of mind. It takes its starting point ten years after the fall of the city of Troy and follows its Greek warrior hero Odysseus as he tries to journey to his home of Ithaca in northwest Greece after the Greek victory over the Trojans.On his travels, Odysseus comes across surreal islands and foreign lands where he is in turn challenged and supported by those that he meets on his travels as he attempts to find his way back home in order to vanquish those who threaten his estate. In turn, his son Telemachus has to grow up quickly as he attempts to find his father and protect his mother from her suitors.Dealing with the universal themes of temptation and courage, the epic journey that Odysseus undertakes is as meaningful today as it was almost 3,000 years ago when the story was composed.

The Odyssey is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to the poet Homer. The poem is commonly dated to between 800 and 600 BC. The poem concerns the events that befall the Greek hero Odysseus in his long journey back to his native land Ithaca after the fall of Troy. It takes Odysseus ten years to return to his native land of Ithaca after ten years of war; during his 20-year absence, his son Telemachus and his wife Penelope must deal with a group of unruly suitors who have moved into Odysseus’ home to compete for Penelope’s hand in marriage, since most have assumed that Odysseus has died.

L' Odyssée ( / ɒ d ə s i / ; [1] grec : Ὀδύσσεια Odysseia , prononcé [o.dýs.sej.ja] dans Grenier classique ) est l' un des deux grands anciens grecs poèmes épiques attribués à Homère . C'est en partie une suite à l' Iliade , l'autre œuvre attribuée à Homère. L' odyssée est fondamentale pour le canon occidental moderne et est le deuxième travail existant le plus ancien de la littérature occidentale; l' Iliadec'est le plus vieux. Les chercheurs croient que l' Odyssée a été composée à la fin du 8ème siècle av. J.-C., quelque part en Ionie , région côtière grecque d' Anatolie .

The adventures of Odysseus have stood in the center of classical literature for centuries. Although countless scholars have studied and translated Homer's epic poem, each person who encounters The Odyssey for the first time is unfailingly startled by the excitement, drama, and contemporary nature of its remarkable hero. The Odyssey is the sweeping story of a great warrior who must wander the world for years after the Trojan War. But it is also an intensely domestic tale of the loving husband who returns after a long absence, joining forces with his faithful wife to defeat those who would destroy their enduring union. Little is known of Homer's life, but this much is certain: he sang for a living. Long before The Odyssey appeared on the page, it was recited over and over to listeners eager to be entertained. Prepare now to be drawn into a vivid ancient world where the voyages of Odysseus and his fight to regain his rightful place at home stand out with stunning clarity in this lyrical narration by Norman Dietz.

Odysseus, the hero of the Trojan War, longs to return home to his kingdom in Ithaca, where a horde of suitors (who believe the long-absent Odysseus to be dead) are courting his beloved wife. Odysseus had angered the sea god, Poseidon, and for the past ten years, he's been beset by a host of challenges. The Greek hero must rely on wit, strength, and the aid of the gods of Mount Olympus to survive tumultuous storms, battles with great beasts, and the seductive powers of witches, sirens, and nymphs as he makes his way homeward. Originally written around 700 BCE, the authorship of this epic poem remains uncertain, but most scholars ascribe it to a blind Greek poet named Homer. This unabridged translation by William Cowper was originally published in 1791.