The OdysseyHomer (somewhere near the 8th century BC) |
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THE A5 BOOK REVIEWThe two works generally acknowledged as the oldest surviving in Western literature are the Iliad and the Odyssey, ancient Greek poems attributed to the philosopher Homer. The Iliad is set during a few weeks during the ten-year Trojan War, and the Odyssey is the sequel, telling the story of the Greek hero and king of Ithica, Odysseus, and his quest to return home ten years after the war. This in our unofficial opinion was one of the first travel books, and the word “odyssey” now of course refers to an epic voyage. Odysseus is desperate to finally return home to his wife Penelope, but along the way he faces many challenges from Poseidon, the god of the sea, including shipwrecks, the many-headed Scylla, and a group of cannibalistic Cyclops. It is a literary masterpiece, a true tale of life’s journey, and a foundational work in literature that is still taught in classrooms today. There are several published children’s editions as well.
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A RELATED A5 RECOMMENDATION - ULYSSES, BY JAMES JOYCEOne of our aspirations here at A5 Travel Books it to read Ulysses (1922), the novel by James Joyce considered by many to be one the more important literary works ever written. It is recognized as a very difficult read; Joyce’s linguistic style included stream-of-consciousness writing, many deep literary and historical references, and a rich collection of puns and allusions. The story chronicles an ordinary day of the life of Leopold Bloom in Dublin, structured to align in parallel with Homer’s Odyssey, with overarching themes surrounding Ireland’s relation to Britain.
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ABOUT HOMER
Homer was a Greek poet born sometime around the 10th century BC. Even though he is famous as the alleged the writer of the Iliad and the Odyssey, two epic poems which have had an enormous impact on Western culture, his life is a mystery. There is even a question as to whether he existed at all. Those who want to know more about this historic icon and want some background from the Iliad and the Odyssey,we recommend The Essential Homer, edited by Stanley Lombardo and available on Amazon.
GREAT QUOTES FROM THE ODYSSEY"Tell me, Muse, of the man of many devices, who wandered far and wide after he had sacked Troy's sacred city, and saw the towns of many men and knew their mind."
"There is nothing more admirable than when two people who see eye to eye keep house as man and wife, confounding their enemies and delighting their friends" “A man who has been through bitter experiences and travelled far enjoys even his sufferings after a time” INTERESTING LINKS:
THE GEOGRAPHY OF THE ODYSSEY (from Wikipedia) |
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