2024 the best translation of the odyssey review

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The classic translation of The Odyssey, now in paperback.

This edition also features a map, a Glossary of Names and Places, and Fitzgerald's Postscript. Line drawings precede each book of the poem.

Robert Fitzgerald's translation of Homer's Odyssey is the best and best-loved modern translation of the greatest of all epic poems. Since 1961, this Odyssey has sold more than two million copies, and it is the standard translation for three generations of students and poets. Farrar, Straus and Giroux is delighted to publish a new edition of this classic work. Fitzgerald's supple verse is ideally suited to the story of Odysseus' long journey back to his wife and home after the Trojan War. Homer's tale of love, adventure, food and drink, sensual pleasure, and mortal danger reaches the English-language reader in all its glory.

Of the many translations published since World War II, only Fitzgerald's has won admiration as a great poem in English. The noted classicist D. S. Carne-Ross explains the many aspects of its artistry in his Introduction, written especially for this new edition.

Winner of the Bollingen Prize

Publisher ‏ : ‎ FSG Adult (November 5, 1998)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 515 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0374525749
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0374525743
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 1 year and up
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 830L
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.45 x 1.05 x 8.2 inches
Reviewer: Morgan
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: The Odyssey: Fitzgerald's Translation
Review: Robert Fitzgerald's translation of the Odyssey is one to be admired and remembered for centuries to come. Fitzgerald's translation of the Odyssey is easy to follow (in comparison to the Iliad) and keeps the reader intrigued. The Odyssey is the story of Odysseus and his journey home to Ithaca after an absence of twenty years. Although the Odyssey seems to have a very `basic' story line, it is actually extremely complex. Throughout his journey home to Ithaca, Odysseus is faced with several different obstacles and loses many of his beloved friends/crew members. Fitzgerald does a wonderful job of taking Homer's original text and translating it for the modern day reader to understand and comprehend. This is one of the main reasons why I was able to understand and comprehend the Odyssey.I was required to read a version of the Odyssey while in high school (not Fitzgerald's version) and had an extremely difficult time understanding and comprehending what was going on. As a result, I was dreading the fact that I would once again have to read it for my college lit class. After being submerged to Fitzgerald's translation, I realized that the Odyssey was actually a wonderful story with an even better story line.If you are interested in reading the Odyssey or are required to do so, I would highly recommend purchasing Fitzgerald's translation. It is simple and easy for the modern reader to understand, yet is complex enough to keep you intrigued.

Reviewer: Aristotle
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: very accessible translation
Review: This translation is very accessible, using modern speech patterns and familiar language. The notes are clear and complement the text.

Reviewer: Bill Schwicker
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Excellent translation
Review: Everyone should read this by high school at least as our “old-school” Western Canon is descended from Homer’s ancient tale.And if the “western canon” fills you with disgust, you’re doomed to wallow in Century 21 woken ignorance. Your choice, folks.

Reviewer: laura
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: The Odyssesy through the eyes of an honors college student
Review: Being a college honors student and someone who loves to read I greatly appreciate a good book. When I first saw the Odyssey on our honors book list for this semester, I was less than thrilled. I had seen my sister and brother reading it before and it was not something I had planned on reading, even though it is considered one of the great classics. After first reading the Iliad in class, my expectations for the Odyssey were fairly low. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was significantly different from the Iliad. The story line held my attention and the characters were ones I could relate with. The idea of a personal "odyssey" is one that I can now understand and I feel that it is a good way to look at life. The Odyssey also brings to attention the question of predetermined fate versus making your own destiny. With the role of the gods in the Odyssey it is clear that in some matters, the mortals have very little control, but there are also times when even the gods say that they cannot change fate. Although many people today do not believe in the Homeric gods, the questions presented in his writing lead one to search deeper into their own beliefs. Overall, I found that I actually really liked the Odyssey and got quite a lot out of it. It is a book that I plan to reread sometime in the future. I now better understand its historical and informational importance, and it is definitely something that I think liberal arts students should read.

Reviewer: mel
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Good condition
Review: This book was a required reading for my 12th grade daughter. I won't comment on the story itself. The book was in great condition and arrived on time.

Reviewer: Jonathan R. Tomshine
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: My Favorite Translation of Homer
Review: Fitzgerald's translations of Homer are poetic and a pleasure to read. I can't read the original Greek, but my understanding is that the original was not just a story, but a story told in the form of a poem. That's the feel of Fitzgerald's translations.Just the first line of the Odyssey gives a feeling of this: "Sing in me, Muse, and through me tell the story of that man skilled in all ways of contending."

Reviewer: Amanda Mcdonald
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Great condition
Review: The Odyssey arrived in excellent condition. It was listed at a great price, too.

Reviewer: The Readingmaniac
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Incredible
Review: The Odyssey will always be a classic of literature, and with good reason. With the intense battles, Odysseus's clever tricks, and Penelope and Telemachus's heart-wrenching plight, it's no wonder this poem has survived the centuries. This version goes above and beyond what should be required of a translation: the prose is beautiful and arranged, as it should be, in lines and stanzas. Hermes rhymes and Homer's memory tricks work to enrich the text rather than detract. The cover, featuring a watercolor over a contour of Athena, is a nice addition, and looks nice on your shelf. In conclusion, I would reccommend this whole-heartedly and tell you that anyone who hasn't read the Robert Fitzgerald translation of the Odyssey hasn't read the Odyssey at all.

Reviewer: Maggie
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: The Odyssey is brought alive by Dan Steven’s narration of the story. He makes you feel like you’re right there experiencing it too, the danger when landing on unknown islands, the frightful tale of the Cyclops and the wrath of Poseidon, going to the underworld and meeting the shades or ghosts of the dead and hearing their mournful tale of how they came to be there. I came to understand what brimstone was when Odysseus used it to cleanse his house after his fight with the unwelcome wooers. Those times were different with different ways of doing things. It’s thrilling to listen to Dan Stevens narrate a story. Beautiful!

Reviewer: J L ORTIZ
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: A pesar de que es una edición traducida que es la que recomendaba el colegio es un libro muy pesado y me acordé para niños

Reviewer: gobblebook
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: This is an absolutely stunning production. Robert Fitzgerald's wonderful translation - my personal favourite - brought to life by Dan Stevens with astonishing variety, understanding and depth. I'd recommend it unreservedly

Reviewer: Travis Mataya
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: The is my favorite translation. The prose and language just fits about as well as I think English can get. The best way to read The Odyssey is in verse form, and this is the best English version you will find. The introduction and extra content is also quite good.

Reviewer: Partial Mind
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: The real deal. Mesmeric and poetic