荷馬史詩承襲希臘神話,是西洋文學的奠基之作,許多重要文學及影視作品都沿用其中母題或中心題旨,喬伊斯更以《奧德賽》為基礎,創作出文學史上的經典《尤里西斯》(Ulysses),瑪格麗特‧愛特伍亦根據奧德修斯的妻子一角,用女性主義觀點改寫而成《潘妮洛普》(The Penelopiad),由此可知《奧德賽》的重要地位。
《奧德賽》集歷史、民族誌、神話、傳說、民間故事、童話、傳奇、戰爭文學、旅行文學、田園文學、奇幻文學與寫實文學等敘事類型與風格之大成,描寫城邦領袖兼一家之主奧德修斯的英雄事蹟,兼及單親家庭的困擾、戰士返鄉的問題、兩性的角力、性誘惑與騷擾、海上歷險、生死大哉問、主僕關係等等,這些經驗涉及的主題包括身分認同、代溝、人際疏離、尋根、鄉愁、秩序的解體與重建等方面,呈現出人性價值,且兼具當代及普世意義。
本中文書介出自《荷馬史詩: 奧德賽》書林出版有限公司出版
The first great adventure story in the Western canon, The Odyssey is a poem about violence and the aftermath of war; about wealth, poverty and power; about marriage, family and identity; and about travellers, hospitality and the changing meanings of home in a strange world.
This vivid new translation matches the number of lines in the Greek original, striding at Homer's sprightly pace. Emily Wilson employs elemental, resonant language and an iambic pentameter to produce a translation with an enchanting "rhythm and rumble " that avoids proclaiming its own grandeur. An engrossing tale told in a compelling new voice that allows contemporary readers to luxuriate in Homer's descriptions and similes and to thrill at the tension and excitement of its hero's adventures, Wilson recaptures what is "epic " about this wellspring of world literature.
About Emily Wilson’s translation
“Wilson’s language is fresh, unpretentious, and lean. Even knowing the text well, I found myself rapt. Her worthy goal is always to engage readers, inviting them more deeply into the story. In this she succeeds with the skill of an ancient bard.”
—MADELINE MILLER, author of Circe
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