Reading the Odyssey - by Jonas Grethlein (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A fresh and original introduction to the Odyssey--and how it continues to shape literature, film, art and even the ways we make sense of our lives

Reading the Odyssey is an introduction to Homer's masterpiece like no other. It combines a cultural and intellectual history of the epic with an in-depth exploration of its unique and influential narrative structure and the ways it continues to inform issues of identity, meaning and experience.

Reading the Odyssey begins with a broad history of the epic's reception and interpretation, its place in cultural and intellectual history and its influence today on literature, film and art. After introducing the literary form of the Odyssey, the book turns to its main focus: the layered narrative that lies at the heart of the poem. Taking readers on a tour of the epic, Jonas Grethlein shows the nuanced ways the Odyssey uses a wide variety of narrative forms and functions. At the same time, he highlights how we all rely on narratives, first used by Homer, to form identities, forge communities and make sense of our lives.

The result is a compelling guide to the Odyssey that demonstrates why it continues to speak so powerfully to so many readers today.

Review Quotes

"The best book available on the essential text of Western culture that is the Odyssey. . . . [T]he vision of the Odyssey that Grethlein presents to us seems to far surpass previous analyses."---Françoise Létoublon, Bryn Mawr Classical Review

"A book of rich insights that will be welcome even by experts in the study of Homer, I recommend reading this especially for those who have not yet read the Odyssey. More than just a primer, it will provide the novice reader . . . with the intellectual grounding needed to comprehend this foundational text."---Cliff Cunningham, Sun News Austin

"An edifying critical companion to Homer's epic."-- "Publishers Weekly"

"Beyond its characteristically insightful close readings balanced with a clear overview of the poem and its history, this is perhaps the main takeaway of Grethlein's book: that narrative can provide a channel for and mastery over lived experience, building identity."---Luke Combs, Greece & Rome

About the Author

Jonas Grethlein is Chair in Greek literature at the University of Heidelberg. His books include Ancient Greek Texts and Modern Narrative Theory, The Ancient Aesthetics of Deception, Aesthetic Experiences and Classical Antiquity, and The Greeks and Their Past.