An epic journey of adventure, endurance, and the search for home
In The Odyssey, Homer crafts one of the oldest and most influential adventure stories in Western literature. The poem follows Odysseus, the cunning king of Ithaca, as he battles gods, monsters, and temptation on his ten-year quest to return home after the Trojan War. Facing shipwrecks, the wrath of Poseidon, and the allure of the witch-goddess Circe, Odysseuss journey is a timeless exploration of loyalty, perseverance, and the human spirit.
As Penelope and Telemachus struggle to defend their home from unruly suitors, Odysseus must rely on his wit and courage to overcome every obstacle. The Odysseys vivid storytelling, mythical landscapes, and unforgettable characters have inspired readers for nearly three millennia.
Inside the book:
The legendary adventures of Odysseus, from the Cyclops and Sirens to the Underworld Themes of loyalty, identity, hospitality, the meaning of home, and resilience in the face of adversity A cast of gods, monsters, and mortals whose stories echo through history Modern translation and Introduction by Prof. Ian Johnston
Perfect for lovers of epic fiction, mythology, and classic literature, The Odyssey remains a must-read for anyone seeking adventure, wisdom, and insight into the human condition.
Introduction by Ian Johnston vii
Editor's Note on the Text xxxv
About Ian Johnston xxxvii
About Tom Butler-Bowdon xxxix
The Odyssey xli
Book One Athena Visits Ithaca 1
Book Two Telemachus Prepares for his Voyage 25
Book Three Telemachus Visits Nestor in Pylos 49
Book Four Telemachus Visits Menelaus in Sparta 75
Book Five Odysseus Leaves Calypso's Island and Reaches Phaeacia 119
Book Six Odysseus and Nausicaa 143
Book Seven Odysseus at the Court of Alcinous in Phaeacia 159
Book Eight Odysseus is Entertained in Phaeacia 177
Book Nine Ismarus, the Lotus- Eaters,and the Cyclops 207
Book Ten Aeolus, the Laestrygonians, and Circe 235
Book Eleven Odysseus Meets the Shades of the Dead 263
Book Twelve The Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis, The Cattle of the Sun 297
Book Thirteen Odysseus Leaves Phaeacia and Reaches Ithaca 321
Book Fourteen Odysseus Meets Eumaeus 343
Book Fifteen Telemachus Returns to Ithaca 371
Book Sixteen Odysseus Reveals Himself to Telemachus 399
Book Seventeen Odysseus Goes to the Palace as a Beggar 423
Book Eighteen Odysseus and Irus the Beggar 455
Book Nineteen Eurycleia Recognizes Odysseus 477
Book Twenty Odysseus Prepares for his Revenge 507
Book Twenty-One The Contest With Odysseus's Bow 527
Book Twenty-Two The Killing of the Suitors 549
Book Twenty-Three Odysseus and Penelope 575
Book Twenty-Four Zeus and Athena End the Fighting 595
Glossary of Names and Places 625
Homer was an ancient Greek poet believed to have lived in the 8th century BCE. He is the author of two of the most significant epic poems in Western literature, The Iliad and The Odyssey, celebrated for their narrative depth and exploration of human experience.
Ian Johnston is Professor Emeritus of Vancouver Island University (formerly Malaspina University-College) in British Columbia, Canada, where he taught Classics and English. He has translated Aeschylus, Aristophanes, Aristotle, Homer, Ovid and Sophocles, and modern works by Kant, Kafka, Montaigne and Nietzsche. He is the author of The Ironies of War: An Introduction to Homer's Iliad (1987).
Tom Butler-Bowdon is editor of the Capstone Classics series and has written introductions to Machiavelli's The Prince, Marcus Aurelius' Meditations, Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich, and Wallace Wattles' The Science of Getting Rich. A graduate of the London School of Economics, he is also the author of 50 Self-Help Classics, 50 Success Classics, and 50 Psychology Classics.
