Emily Wilson Plans Full Odyssey Retranslation

Classicist Emily Wilson is undertaking a complete retranslation of Homer’s “The Odyssey,” rather than revising her bestselling 2017 version, and says she is about halfway finished. She believes her approach has matured and plans to address shortcomings in the earlier edition, including her overuse of “slave” for distinct categories of enslaved people, while allowing more lines, varied rhythms and substantially more explanatory notes. Wilson’s 2017 translation, the first major English-language version of the epic published by a woman, won praise for its accessibility but also became a flashpoint in cultural debates. Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation renewed interest in the poem and boosted sales of Wilson’s translation, even as she criticized the movie as grandiose, superficial and sometimes incoherent. Her new essay collection, “Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea,” further examines translation, classical literature and the modern reception of ancient Greek works.