Emily Wilson's new translation of "The Odyssey" doesn't change any of the action, but puts it in modern English and it rolls right along in rhythm. Being a woman, her word choices favor Penelope, her handmaidens, and the other women, and are... not super-impressed with Odysseus. It begins, "Tell me about a complicated man, Muse."
I say new cuz it's only 6 years old, which is like a fraction of a second ago compared to the original book.
It gets low ratings from men, but I loved it. I'd never made it through the book before despite trying several times. This one, it took less than a week. The male friend who was a retired professor of Ancient Greek lent it to me. He thought it was awesome, and of course he'd read the original and many previous translations. But y'know, he wasn't a misogynist.
Maybe someone smacked (during the war) Odysseus in the head with a hammer(?) and he suffered amnesia? 🤕 🤔 After twenty years his memory miraculously returned and he remembered that he has a wife. 🤯 It's a possibility. 🤭
Re your "anti-weaving (I’m coining this new term thank you)"… had you not been so bold perhaps a variation on Knitting ~ Tinking (to undo knitting to correct a fault) might have sufficed.
wherein Dante Gabriel Rossetti's ( painter of your last featured artwork) love life is mentioned. I thought the two articles paired nicely in a way - both strange love stories, one with a happier ending than the other.
Another great post. I will be using anti-weaving whenever possible (albeit probably not often). I also have a question. Why weren't all these nobles, that are creeping on Penelope, fighting in the Trojan War? Maybe it wouldn't have lasted so long.
this is an excellent question !! grown-up youths who were too young to have been obliged to fight at the time of helen's kidnapping?? very interesting... thanks so much for reading !!
Emily Wilson's new translation of "The Odyssey" doesn't change any of the action, but puts it in modern English and it rolls right along in rhythm. Being a woman, her word choices favor Penelope, her handmaidens, and the other women, and are... not super-impressed with Odysseus. It begins, "Tell me about a complicated man, Muse."
I say new cuz it's only 6 years old, which is like a fraction of a second ago compared to the original book.
It gets low ratings from men, but I loved it. I'd never made it through the book before despite trying several times. This one, it took less than a week. The male friend who was a retired professor of Ancient Greek lent it to me. He thought it was awesome, and of course he'd read the original and many previous translations. But y'know, he wasn't a misogynist.
Anyway, recommended to those here.
i love emily wilson’s translations ! i conquered her odyssey, still waiting to find the courage to break into the iliad
I haven't read the Iliad either, same reason. That and there's nobody to lend it to me.
Maybe someone smacked (during the war) Odysseus in the head with a hammer(?) and he suffered amnesia? 🤕 🤔 After twenty years his memory miraculously returned and he remembered that he has a wife. 🤯 It's a possibility. 🤭
This could be good base for a solid turkish soap opera. ☺️
love this !! thanks for reading:)
Re your "anti-weaving (I’m coining this new term thank you)"… had you not been so bold perhaps a variation on Knitting ~ Tinking (to undo knitting to correct a fault) might have sufficed.
Weave ~ Evaew?
OK, maybe not! Let's stick with your new word.
haha, this gave me a good laugh !! thanks for reading:))
Love your storytelling , so fresh and witty ❤️.
Funnily enough, immediately prior to reading this, I had just read this piece
https://open.substack.com/pub/arteveryday/p/john-everett-millais-ophelia?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=10iiay
wherein Dante Gabriel Rossetti's ( painter of your last featured artwork) love life is mentioned. I thought the two articles paired nicely in a way - both strange love stories, one with a happier ending than the other.
ooh i can't wait to check it out! thanks for reading <3
Another great post. I will be using anti-weaving whenever possible (albeit probably not often). I also have a question. Why weren't all these nobles, that are creeping on Penelope, fighting in the Trojan War? Maybe it wouldn't have lasted so long.
this is an excellent question !! grown-up youths who were too young to have been obliged to fight at the time of helen's kidnapping?? very interesting... thanks so much for reading !!
You should start a podcast. I feel like it would be a hit!
Great post! And I hope you’re having a great Advent 🤍
thank you for reading!! <3