The Odyssey

This Penguin edition presents Homer's foundational epic in translation accessible to modern readers while preserving the work's poetic power and cultural significance. The Odyssey remains one of Western literature's most influential works.

The epic follows Odysseus's ten-year journey home to Ithaca following the Trojan War. His adventures include encounters with the Cyclops, Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis, and other mythological beings, while his wife Penelope fends off suitors who seek to claim his throne. The narrative explores themes of homecoming, loyalty, identity, and the relationship between mortals and gods.

The Odyssey established many conventions of Western narrative literature, including the journey motif, character development through trials, and complex narrative structure. The epic's influence extends throughout Western literature, from ancient Roman poetry to modern novels and films. Its exploration of heroism, family, and cultural identity continues to resonate with contemporary readers.

The epic was originally performed orally by traveling bards before being written down, probably in the 8th century BCE. The story's structure, with its parallel narratives of Odysseus's journey and Telemachus's search for his father, influenced later epic and novel forms. The work established many archetypal characters and situations that continue to appear in literature today. Archaeological discoveries have suggested possible historical bases for some of the epic's locations and events.