Odysseus Unbound: The Search for Homer's Ithaca (Hardcover)

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Advance comment by third-party reviewer
‘This curious, spellbinding book is a masterpiece of writing for the general public.’ Professor Tjeerd van Andel, University of Cambridge.

Review
‘This curious, spellbinding book is a masterpiece of writing for the general public. The geological argument in particular is first-class and leaves me in no doubt about the possibility of the theory being proposed.’ Professor Tjeerd van Andel, Honorary Professor in Earth History, Quaternary Science and Geo-archaeology, University of Cambridge

'Bittlestone's argument romps home … triumphant, though many will take issue with his conclusions, which is as it should be.' The Daily Telegraph

'Though neither a classicist nor a geologist by training, [Bittlestone] makes an impressive and enthralling case … the account of how he reached his conclusions is clear, engaging, funny, wonderfully illustrated - and informed by the work of leading specialists whose contributions are generously acknowledged.' Times Literary Supplement

'This book is a gem. Its reconstruction of prehistoric Ithaca has a convincingly Homeric 'look and feel' to it. Reading the Odyssey is unlikely ever to be the same again.' Professor Gregory Nagy, Francis Jones Professor of Classical Greek Literature, Harvard University and Director of the Center for Hellenic Studies, Washington DC

'A fascinating and compelling book; recommended for both public and academic libraries' Library Journal

'The reader's reward is truly thrilling detection supported by breathtaking illustration, yielding a revitalized epic whose prime location of Ithaca is made newly recognizable and powerfully evocative.' Foreword

'…magnificently illustrated …' Sunday Telegraph

'… the intellectual and investigative process by which Bittlestone undertook this endeavour offers unique insights into board level issues such as risk assessment, leadership and even performance management. This makes Bittlestone's journey into the past … a truly fantastic voyage of discovery.' Financial Director

'… extraordinary book … our continued engagement with this most venerable of texts provides us with an enduring mystery in itself, and one that is perhaps unlikely ever to be solved.' arts.telegraph.co.uk

'A sumptuous production, this, with thousands of illuminating illustrations, likewise opulent in valuably synthesising charts of historical and scientific data … stupendous work. A non scientific neutral, I find the geological arguments impressive to overwhelming.' Fortean Times

'Bittlestone … has not been satisfied merely with proving that Paliki was once and island. Most of Odysseus Unbound is taken up with arguing that Homer's description of Ithaca maps so precisely onto Paliki's landscape that Bittlestone can identify the location of Odysseus's palace, his pig-man Eumaios's farm, and so on.' BBC History

'… a remarkably produced book, and CUP is to be congratulated on its appearance … [Bittlestone] has opened up a fascinating path for others to follow further, and we should be both grateful and full of admiration for what Bittlestone has managed to teach himself and us.' The Anglo-Hellenic Review

'… a heavyweight book …'. Daily Telegraph

'The attempt to bring together ancient texts, modern archaeology and the Earth sciences is potentially exciting, even if the final verdict is always going to be 'possible - but not proven' … Bittlestone did persuade me that his ideas are worth taking seriously.' Geoscientist

'[the author's] relaxed, approachable writing style, geared to the non-academic reader; photographs and scientific images along side beautiful descriptions and modern translations of excerpts from Homer's 'Odyssey'; the humour and infectious enthusiasm with which the whole thing is presented; all make for an extremely enjoyable read.' Greek-o-file

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5 Reviews 5 star:  (4) 4 star:    (0) 3 star:  (1) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.6 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews   18 of 19 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Utterly enthralling, 7 Oct 2005 By A Customer I've just finished reading "Odysseus Unbound" and I have to say that the experience was utterly enthralling from start to finish. Robert Bittlestone is simply spell-binding, a sort of visionary genius in the Schliemann mould, who comes across very sympathetically and will soon be mobbed in the street by crazed fans. Even if the place identified as Homer's Ithaca should turn out not to be Ithaca after all, the book will live on as the thrilling account of an intellectual adventure of enduring appeal in itself. Bittlestone has had the benefit of expert advice from James Diggle, probably the greatest living Hellenist, and John Underhill, professor at the University of Edinburgh (well known to football fans: he referees for FIFA). The fact that Bittlestone is not a professional classicist is a bonus in many ways: not least because, had he been one, he would never have embarked on any of this, as classicists are wary of taking Homer "literally". Bittlestone seems to have proved them wrong. Scholars will now have to think again about received wisdom on the Odyssey (i.e. the poet of the Odyssey paradoxically knows lots about Crete but is a clueless ignoramus when it comes to Ithaca...). The main result of this book for Homeric studies is that, if this new Ithaca is indeed ancient Ithaca, the Odyssey might have to be read as having begun life as an Ithacan poem. Professional Homerists will easily grasp how earth-shattering this conclusion is. This will also raise a lot of fascinating questions about the overlap between the Iliad and the Odyssey: when did they start overlapping? If the Odyssey was originally created for an Ithacan audience by someone who knew the Iliad, isn't this difficult to reconcile with the fact that the Odyssey as we know it dates mostly from the 6th century (Laertes being the most recent addition), by which time Bittlestone's Ithaca was no longer inhabited by Ithacans proud of their odyssean descent? The site now thought to be Odysseus' palace on "Ithaca" was almost certainly inhabited in Mycenaean times. The next phase of the project, when the archaeologists start digging, will be the most exciting adventure since Schliemann set out from Germany to find Troy. "Epoch-making" aptly describes what this book has unleashed. Impossible to put down, more impossible still to forget once you have read it. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   13 of 14 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Mind Blowing!, 31 Oct 2005 By A Customer Mind Blowing! Intrigued by recent press comment following the launch of this book, I ordered a copy. I'm grateful that I did, because it is one of the most compelling books I have read for ages – a gripping detective story, gradually unfolding layer by layer. If Robert Bittlestone is correct, this will be one of the most important archaeological discoveries since Schliemann’s uncovering of Troy in the late 19th century. Bittlestone convincingly argues that Cephalonia was once two islands, and that the strip of land that now joins these two islands was submerged beneath the sea at the time of Odysseus (over 3,000 years ago). He calls this strip “Strabo’s Channel”, after the Greek geographer who lived around the time of Christ and who noted that the sea could traverse this strip. He shows that the land has been raised by successive earthquakes (since the island is situated close to the collision of the tectonic plates of Africa and Europe), accompanied by extensive landslips. The western area of Cephalonia that is now called Paliki matches the detailed descriptions of Ithaca in Homer’s tale of the adventures of Odysseus returning to his kingdom of Ithaca after the battle of Troy. The author is not a specialist in any of the subjects (such as geology, seismology, classical studies, and archaeology) that are necessary when tackling this puzzle, although he is obviously a layman of considerable knowledge, comfortably straddling these disciplines. This has two major benefits: first, his clear analysis is available to a wide audience; second, his thinking is not biased or weighted towards any particular theory or prejudice (i.e. he has no axe to grind). He calls on professional help where he needs it, and in this respect James Diggle and John Underhill provide support (and appendices) as philologist and geologist. The one skill he does use to advantage is his knowledge of visual representation of data, particularly with the use of 3D mapping of satellite data. In fact, as he points out in the Postscript, much of the mapping is now available to all of us for free using the World Wind software recently released by NASA. (This is an incredible piece of software, allowing you to explore the topography of anywhere in the world – and you can clearly see the landslip in Strabo’s Channel.) No doubt this book will ruffle a few feathers! But it does look like Bittlestone could be on to a major discovery. There is much detailed testing to do now and an army of specialists will be needed. If they corroborate his findings, the next stage is excavation. The results could be mind blowing – putting us in touch with the late Bronze Age and answering so many questions about Homer. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   6 of 7 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Poseidon's last revenge on Odysseus is to wreck his island., 31 Dec 2005 By  Graham Woods - See all my reviews I can't use the words fantastic or fabulous to describe this book for Odysseus Unbound is not a fantasy nor a fable. Once upon a time scholars may have thought Odysseus' homeward journey was just that, but no more - Robert Bittlestone explains it all. I believe it all. The author and language expert James Diggle closely examine the texts of Strabo and Homer's works literally line by line. He has found the real Ithaca and all the locations mentioned in The Odyssey. What a suberb book, what a body of work! For all those with an interest in Classics, Archaeology or Late Bronze Age History this book must be read. Just shy of 600 pages it is a heavy tome but its not all text - there are a myriad of photographs, drawings and satellite images which explain everything. Could the writer of The Odyssey actually have been Telemachus' son? Wouldn't that be something? I fear for Peliki now, it looks an idyllic place, an Arcadia, no wonder Odysseus couldn't wait to get home and to Penelope. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this) Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review › See all 5 customer reviews...		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars Read it for the adventure, if not the theory Bittlestone's theory is, and will always be unproven. It will always be one of many competing theories for the location of Ithaca, but his stands up to scrutiny better than others... Read more Published 12 months ago by Mr. N. T. Baxter 3.0 out of 5 stars Is it just me, or do people believe everything they read? This is a fascinating book, lavishly produced, well presented and stuffed with supporting material and authority. Read more Published 20 months ago by Mikalis Paparazzi Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews › See all 5 customer reviews...

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