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Emily Wilson Odyssey translation developments

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2026-08-28 23:16 UTC → 2026-09-01 17:19 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Classical scholar Emily Wilson, known for her 2017 English verse translation of Homer’s Odyssey, has discussed the literary influences behind her work and her criticisms of contemporary adaptations. In recent commentary, she identified several books that informed her approach to rhythm and clarity, while also describing Christopher Nolan’s recent epic film as “emotionally empty” and “structurally strained.” Wilson has since announced that she is undertaking an entirely new, complete retranslation of The Odyssey rather than a revision of her previous version. This new project, which is reportedly halfway complete, aims for greater linguistic precision regarding ancient social roles. Specifically, Wilson noted that her previous version frequently used the word ‘slave’ to describe various social roles that the ancient Greek language distinguishes more specifically. The new edition is expected to be more extensive and feature a different formal structure, utilizing more lines than the original to allow for more varied pacing and word length. Industry ~~experts~~ experts, including Kate Deimling of the American Translators Association, have noted that while minor edits are common, a full retranslation of such a commercially successful epic within a decade is “highly unusual” in the publishing industry. Despite the controversy surrounding her criticism of Nolan’s film—which cited her 2017 translation as an influence—both the film and her previous translation have contributed to a significant surge in book sales for the epic poem.

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