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The Odyssey (Oxford World's Classics) (Paperback)

by Homer (Author), G. S. Kirk (Contributor), Walter Shewring (Translator) "GODDESS of song, teach me the story of a hero ..." (more)
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Oxford Paperbacks; New edition edition (5 Mar 1998)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0192833758
  • ISBN-13: 978-0192833754
  • Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 12.8 x 1.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 235,475 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #80 in  Books > Poetry, Drama & Criticism > History & Criticism > Literary Studies > Classical, Early & Medieval
    #93 in  Books > Poetry, Drama & Criticism > Poetry > Genres > Epics

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Product Description

Review

"This would be an appropriate selection--for the literature, for the myth--and what a wonderful time my students and I could have finding depictions in the visual arts."--Professor Dixie Durham, Chapman University
"This is a wonderful translation....This should be the Odyssey of choice when translations are read in college courses."--Mark Taylor, Manhattan College
"A fine, inexpensive prose adaptation."--John Thomas, University of Iowa


Product Description

This is Homer's classic tale of Odysseus' 10-year voyage back home to his wife Penelope in Ithaca after the Trojan war. It tells of his encounters with the Cyclops, the Sirens, Scylla and Charibdis and his eventual arrival home, to be recognized by his dog.
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GODDESS of song, teach me the story of a hero. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews

12 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (12 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A very important work- familiar, mystical but quite slow, 19 Nov 2002
By "lexi_wades" - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   
I started reading this book already knowing the outline of Odessus's voyge back home after the battle of Troy through film, articles and reading a condensed version of the tale. I'm very glad I do have some fore-knowledge of the story as some parts of the book are quite ambiguous and confusing. The rich narrative of the text sometimes bogs the action down and it is quite easy to forget what exactly is happening.
The action though, when it comes, is exciting and often quite blood thirsty. The plot devices are also ingenious and completly ruthless in some cases- Odyssus is the only one of his party to arrive home after all his soldiers meet grusome deaths at the hands of his mortal enemies.
Possibly one of the most interesting things about the story is the way modern litrature and culture have frequently mirrored or refered to Homer's plot ideas (if you can say there's a plot, The Odyssey is written as a true story). The classic story of someone trying to return home against enormous odds has been used over and over often with subtle or not so subtle usage of Homer's myth. The images within the book of the sirens and the cyclopes are famous in their own right and it's amusing to see how they all fit into place in the larger scheme.
The split narrative of the story is very interesting as the tale of the journey home is sometimes told in hindsight or fore warning making the structure of the story jump. This seems very unusual in a book pre-twentieth century let alone cica 700BC!
Some parts of the book are repetative, steeped in unecessary narrative and are confusing. The regular descriptions of food and sacrifices to the gods can become dull and will not appeal to those who read for leisure, however, the antiquity of the writing means that The Odyssey is not only a story but also a piece of historic evidence showing how the ancient Greeks lived and what they believed.
As one of the earliest tales written it deserves a high place in anybody's to-read list. In a top 100 of the most important books ever written it would score very highly (top ten) and this is due to the historical rarity of writings of the time and also because it is an interesting, and in many places, exciting story. It is just a pity that the pace of the narrative often plods slowly along and is therefore quite difficult to get through at times.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Grim myth, excellent translation, 20 Mar 2005
By Depressaholic (London, UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   
I haven't read any other translations of 'The Odyssey', so don't have any grounds for comparison but, in terms of style alone, can heartily recommend Walter Shewring's effort. The language is clear and avoids the trap of being too archaic just because it is an old story (3000 years old, give or take). I read the odd classic and tend to take a deep breath before I start, preparing for the occasional hard slog. 'The Odyssey' was a surprisingly easy and enjoyable read.
The story itself is fairly familiar. Odysseus is delayed on his return home from Troy by the anger of the Gods. He faces many trials, such as the Sirens and the Cyclops before his is reunited with his son (Telemachus) and, ultimately, his wife. Before he can resume his old life, however, he must dispatch the suitors who have gathered to wed his wife, believing that he is dead. All the while he is being helped and hindered by the Gods. Before reading this, I hadn't realised that Odysseus' adventures are told as a flashback after his return to Ithica, and that they take up only about half of the book. The second half concerns the slaughter of the suitors and is slower moving, but still immensely enjoyable. The bloodthirstyness, and body count, rivals an average Schwarzenegger movie, as Odysseus fornicates and hacks his way round the Agean Sea. Not one for the children.
If you, like me, wanted to read 'The Odyssey' because of its status, but weren't really looking forward to it, then go for this translation. It captures the tone brilliantly, but is never over-stuffy or grandiose. I enjoyed it a lot and, like the blurb on the back, don't see how it could be better.
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29 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Book, 27 Jun 2001
By A Customer
I was recommended this book, i had never even heard of it before!! Loads of people i spoke to all knew of it.

Whilst some boring train journeys i thought i would endeavour to start on a book that i was told would be hard going!

I have to say - it has been one of the most enjoyable books i have ever read - Odysseus travelled for years trying to get home to his family, and when he does return home he find that his family is being hounded by suitors, Odysseus doesnt reveal his true self after being transformed to a beggar by Athene. He waits and bides his time finding out who his true friends are...

Dont be put off by the long names or the thought of the book being Greek - its a heartwarming story of a return home and it will grip you from beginning to end.. I nearly missed a few train stations because of it!!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth the effort
Shrewing's translation gives readers an accessible version of the Odyssey, yet, importantly, one that is not dumbed down. Read more
Published on 8 Mar 2007 by Mr. RW Abbotson

4.0 out of 5 stars A Classic Adventure
I read this after reading the Oxford World's Classic version of the Illiad. While the Illiad has the more charismatic characters and the energy and excitement of epic battles,... Read more
Published on 15 April 2006 by GeeJayBee

4.0 out of 5 stars Go Odysseus! Get those dastardly suitors!
Let's be clear: If you're anything like me, you won't zoom through this book in one night. It's an old story, and, although the translation isn't exactly as hard to understand as... Read more
Published on 29 April 2005 by B. Davison

5.0 out of 5 stars War and Penelope.
I hope that those who read my review will forgive me because I would like to talk mainly about Penelope, the wife of Odysseus. Read more
Published on 3 Oct 2004 by Jan Dierckx

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book
The Odyssey is a very interesting book because of the way is it's written these book is mainly about hereous ,gods and interesting people. Read more
Published on 25 Feb 2004 by edgar rodriguez

5.0 out of 5 stars A adventure book
I think that this book is so cool is one of the most important books and I think that this book is really so cool I learned about the goddens I think that this writer was so... Read more
Published on 25 Feb 2004 by mayra sosa

5.0 out of 5 stars The Odyssey Adventures
The odyssey is one of the most interestig books I ever read, this book has a lot of conflicts and I like it because of the way it's written. Read more
Published on 25 Feb 2004 by fernando

4.0 out of 5 stars A great action and adventure story.
The characters are unique, the places Odysseus visit are exciting and the monsters fearsome. Story-telling at its best, this is really an epic that should be read by all. Read more
Published on 22 Oct 2003 by Ms. E. A. Mabbott

5.0 out of 5 stars brilliant
this book is my favourite, i love the way that all the charcters have traits and failings that can be recognised in people of today despite us being thousands of years apart. Read more
Published on 14 Oct 2003

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