One-minute quiz
Which Odyssey translation should you read?
There is no single best translation of Homer’s Odyssey— only the one that fits how you want to read. Answer five quick questions and get matched to Wilson, Fagles, Fitzgerald, Lattimore, or Butler, with an honest note on why.
Question 1 of 5
How would you describe yourself as a reader of Homer?
The five translations at a glance
- Emily Wilson (2017)
- Modern, fast, iambic pentameter. The usual best all-round choice for a first read.
- Robert Fagles (1996)
- Warm, dramatic, and sweeping, with strong read-aloud momentum.
- Robert Fitzgerald (1961)
- Lyrical and musical — a beloved mid-century verse translation.
- Richmond Lattimore (1965)
- Closest to the Greek's rhythm and formulas; slower and scholarly.
- Samuel Butler (1900)
- Free public-domain prose that reads like a novel (Roman names: Ulysses, Minerva). The base text in the Home Pack.
For the full comparison — readability, faithfulness, and where to start — see our guide to choosing an Odyssey translation.
Questions people ask
What is the best Odyssey translation for beginners?
For most first-time adult readers, Emily Wilson's 2017 translation is the usual recommendation: modern, quick, and clear without feeling dumbed down. If you'd rather read it like a novel — or for free — Samuel Butler's public-domain prose is the lowest-friction way in.
Which Odyssey translation is most accurate?
Richmond Lattimore's 1965 translation is prized for staying closest to the Greek's line, rhythm, and repeated formulas. That fidelity makes it slower and more scholarly, so many readers save it for a second, closer pass.
Is there a free Odyssey translation?
Yes. Samuel Butler's 1900 prose translation is in the public domain and free to read. It uses the Roman names — Ulysses for Odysseus, Minerva for Athena, Neptune for Poseidon. It is the complete text included in the $19 Home Pack, alongside a modern companion.
Do I need to read the Odyssey before the 2026 film?
No — the film will stand on its own. But the poem is short enough to read first (about 10 to 14 hours), and knowing it changes what you watch: which episodes an adaptation keeps, and what its ending is allowed to mean.
Then read the whole poem, well.
Whichever translation you choose, the Home Pack gives you the complete Odyssey(Butler’s public-domain text) as a designed PDF and EPUB, plus a modern companion — book openings, 120+ notes, a journey map, character cards, and 7- and 14-day reading plans — so the poem holds together on the first pass.
See what is inside the Home PackThe Odyssey Companionis an independent, unofficial reader’s companion to Homer’s Odyssey. Translation descriptions are neutral summaries; copyrighted translations are described, never reproduced.