Emily Wilson’s ‘Odyssey’ became a cultural flashpoint. Now, she’s retranslating the whole thing
Summary
Emily Wilson, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, is creating a completely new English translation of Homer’s epic poem "The Odyssey," after completing her first widely praised version in 2017. She aims to improve her work by using more accurate language and better reflecting ancient social details.Key Facts
- Emily Wilson published a major English translation of "The Odyssey" in 2017, the first by a woman.
- Her 2017 translation sold over one million copies and was praised for modern language but faced some criticism.
- She is now working on a full retranslation, not just a revision, and is about halfway done.
- Wilson says her new version will be longer and more accurate, using different terms for enslaved people as in the original Greek.
- Retranslating a major work so soon and after success is very unusual in literary translation.
- Her decision was controversial, and she acknowledges it might be difficult for teachers to deal with two editions by her.
- Wilson’s first translation inspired filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s recent version of "The Odyssey."
- Her editor describes her new approach as exciting because of her deep scholarship and involvement.
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