Emily Wilson to completely retranslate her bestselling Odyssey, sparking fresh debate

Emily Wilson, a professor of classical studies at the University of Pennsylvania, announced that she is halfway through a complete retranslation of Homer’s Odyssey, distinct from a simple revision of her acclaimed 2017 edition. The original translation, celebrated for its accessibility and noted as the first major English version by a woman, became a bestseller and a flashpoint in cultural debates, especially after Nolan cited it for his movie.

Wilson explained that new scholarly insights and a desire to reflect the poem’s varied social categories prompted the new effort, which will be longer and avoid earlier linguistic shortcuts. Her publisher, Liveright Publishing, described the project as “thrilling,” while the literary community, including the American Translators Association, noted its rarity. Alongside the translation work, Wilson is releasing a new essay collection, “Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea,” featuring critiques of past translations and commentary on modern pop culture, Stoicism, and the reception of ancient myths.