The Odyssey

By Homer and Alfred J. Church

Book Overview

This stunning edition of The Odyssey, Homer's great epic, one of the oldest surviving works of literature, describes the many adventures of Odysseus the Greek hero, as he strives over many years to return to his home island of Ithaca after the Trojan War. On Ithaca he will defeat the suitors camped in his palace and reunite with his loyal wife, Penelope.

The setting of The Odyssey spans the Mediterranean and includes mythical realms such as the Cyclopes' island, the land of the Lotus Eaters, and the underworld. The poem is not only an adventurous tale but also a reflection on the complexities of human nature, loyalty, and the consequences of one's actions. His adventures, his endurance, his love for his wife and son have the same power to move and inspire readers today as they did in Archaic Greece, 2800 years ago. This beautiful edition is translated by Alexander Pope.

Chiltern creates the most beautiful editions of the World's finest literature. Your favorite classic titles in a way you have never seen them before: the tactile layers, fine details and beautiful colors of these remarkable covers make these books feel extra special and look striking on any shelf.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1914602722
• ISBN13: 9781914602726
• Release Date: October 2025
• Publisher: Chiltern Publishing
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 1.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 4.9" x 7.1"

Customer Reviews

“I long to be homeward bound,” Simon and Garfunkel

The Trojan War is over, and one of our hero kings is lost. His son (Telemachus) travels to find any information about his father’s fate. His wife (Penelope) must cunningly hold off suitors who are eating them out of house and home. If he ever makes it home, Odysseus will have to detect those servants loyal from those who are not. One absent king against rows of suitors; how will he give them their just desserts? We look to Bright-Eyed Pallas Athena to help prophecy come true. Interestingly, all the tales of monsters and gods on the sea voyage were told by Odysseus. Notice that no one else survives to tell the tale. Therefore, we have to rely on Odysseus’s word. Many movies took sections of The Odyssey and expanded them into interesting stories in their own right. Not just the story but also how it is told will keep you up late at night reading. It is a tear-jerker when Odysseus returns, 20 years later, and the only one to recognize him is Argos, his faithful dog, who lived long enough to see him. Upon seeing his master return home, Argos dies. You will, of course, want to buy the various translations to see the differences in reading style and content.