New Translation of “The Odyssey” by Emily Wilson
NEW YORK (AP) — For those who appreciated Emily Wilson’s 2017 translation of “The Odyssey,” it might come as a surprise that she’s working on another one.
“It’s a complete retranslation. It’s not a revision of the old version,” Wilson mentioned during a recent Zoom chat from her Philadelphia home, where she teaches classical studies at the University of Pennsylvania. “I’m about halfway through.”
Her initial translation is noted as the first significant English-language version of Homer’s epic by a woman. It became a bestseller and sparked cultural debates long before Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation. Wilson explained that her translation techniques have evolved, and time has allowed her to recognize some shortcomings. For instance, she acknowledged that she excessively used the term “slave” when ancient Greek had various specific terms for different categories of enslaved individuals. The upcoming edition will be lengthier and aim to reflect the varied social contexts of Homer’s narrative.
While it’s common for fiction writers and poets to revise their earlier works, translators usually don’t undertake a full retranslation of a text so soon after the original version, especially one that has been as successful as Wilson’s “Odyssey.”
“I can’t really recall a similar instance,” remarked Kate Deimling, who leads the literary division of the American Translators Association. “Editors may go back to correct or tweak editions later, but that’s not the same as retracing the whole translation.”
Wilson described her publisher’s reaction as “very controversial.” She expressed her awareness that having two recent editions from the same translator might complicate things for educators, and she hopes they won’t “curse” her name. Peter Simon, her editor at Liveright Publishing, said in a statement that given how much of her life and academic work she has invested in “The Odyssey,” her new approach promises to be exciting.
Fame was a significant concern for the ancient Greeks, and Wilson stands out among classical scholars in that she possesses experience in public life. Critics lauded her 2017 translation for making “The Odyssey” feel contemporary and accessible, though she faced backlash online for perceived “wokeness.” Her version has sold over a million copies, reigniting debates about her work.
Nolan referenced her translation and its opening line, “Tell me about a complicated man,” as an influence for his film. Wilson, who anticipates keeping that line unchanged in the new edition, did not reciprocate his admiration. She described the movie as grandiose and superficial, even incoherent in interviews with the AP and other outlets.
The backlash against her response to the film has been marked by both support and criticism, including comments from Joyce Carol Oates, who found fault with Wilson’s perceived “superiority.” Nolan hasn’t directly addressed the issue, but he did emphasize the importance of proper cinematic understanding when discussing “amateur criticism.”
Wilson’s prominence coincides with her new essay collection, “Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea,” which was planned before the movie’s release. The book, set to come out on Tuesday, includes praise from notable authors like Salman Rushdie and Madeline Miller. It features an extensive section on translating “The Odyssey,” critiquing modern versions by Daniel Mendelsohn and the late Robert Fagles. Other chapters tackle various topics, like the “slut-shaming” of Helen of Troy and a nod to Aeschylus’s words quoted by Robert F. Kennedy, which highlighted a mistranslation by Edith Hamilton.
During her conversation, Wilson shared her thoughts on celebrity, expressed her aversion to Rick Riordan’s “Percy Jackson” series (although Riordan’s team declined to comment), and reflected on her growing appreciation for Stoic philosophy.
In her essay discussing her translation of “The Odyssey,” she points out that Robert Fagles’ approach is “very loud, lively and chatty,” which may explain its ongoing popularity in the U.S. When asked about her own qualities as a bestselling author, Wilson explained that she aimed for “enargeia,” achieving emotional vividness and narrative pacing that allows readers to grasp characters’ feelings thoroughly.
She also mentioned the inaccuracies often attributed to interpretations of ancient texts, such as Robert Kennedy’s misquote of Aeschylus due to his engagement with Edith Hamilton’s writings, which are also filled with mistakes.
On the topic of Stoicism in her essays, she remarked, “Stoicism is having a moment.” When asked if she feels more Stoic than before, Wilson conveyed her skepticism about finding security through philosophy. Recent experiences have shown her how little control she has over others’ perceptions of her work. “I have zero control. I actually think,” she adds, that this realization is a helpful reminder of the powerlessness inherent in being misunderstood or misinterpreted.
When discussing her attraction to studying ancient Greece over other periods, Wilson describes it as a kind of “intellectual greed.” She finds it fascinating to explore how ancient cultures were reinterpreted in subsequent eras.
Regarding her criticism of Riordan’s “Percy Jackson” books, she acknowledged that many of her students enjoy them. Yet she expressed concerns about the underlying ideology, particularly in “The Lightning Thief,” suggesting it represents an American exceptionalism theme through the perspective of a privileged character.
In her analysis of ancient Greek comedy, she even linked current cultural phenomena, like Cardi B’s “WAP,” to classical themes, emphasizing that echoes of antiquity can be found in unexpected places. She believes that both worlds contain rich poetic elements that deserve exploration.
