Emily Wilson retranslates Homer’s Odyssey
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Emily Wilson, a celebrated translator of Homeric epics, is beginning a second translation of The Odyssey despite her first, published in 2017, selling over one million copies.
Wilson explained she feels “compulsive” about revisiting the text, partly because her first translation prioritized pacing to make the poem more accessible to students who found it boring. Her new translation will aim to match the style of her 2023 translation of The Iliad.
Wilson also discussed her recent, critical review of Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation of The Odyssey, stating she felt a responsibility to be truthful in her assessment. She clarified that film adaptations should diverge from source material, unlike literary translations which should strive for equivalence to the original experience. The review sparked controversy online, with much of the discussion focusing on Wilson rather than the film or the poem itself.
In her new book, Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea, Wilson examines the challenges of translating ancient works, balancing fidelity to the original with accessibility for modern readers. She emphasizes that translators bring their own biases and cultural perspectives to the work, and that understanding these influences is crucial. Wilson believes engaging with ancient literature is important, but cautioned against simply celebrating all adaptations without critical thought.
