The Odyssey

Homer’s Odyssey follows Odysseus on his long and perilous journey home to Ithaca after the Trojan War. Driven across the Mediterranean by hostile gods and his own choices, he encounters the Cyclops, Circe, the Sirens and the dangers of the underworld while Penelope and Telemachus struggle against the suitors occupying his household. The poem is at once an adventure, a story of homecoming and a sustained exploration of identity, loyalty, endurance and the consequences of war.

This Penguin Classics edition presents Robert Fagles’s acclaimed translation, with an introduction and textual commentary by classicist Bernard Knox. Fagles combines pace and readability with the scale and energy of Homeric verse, while maps, genealogical material and supporting notes help readers navigate the world of the poem. It is a strong choice for first-time readers, students and returning readers seeking an established modern English translation.