Homer's Odyssey

Chris Tryhorn

Jul 2026 · Troubador Publishing Ltd

About this ebook

The story of the Greek hero Odysseus and his long journey home from Troy has been told and re-told for centuries: how he outwitted the Cyclops, survived the enchantments of Circe and the Sirens and used all his cunning and bravery to confront the suitors laying claim to his wife, Penelope. Chris Tryhorn has returned to Homer's ancient Greek poem to provide modern readers with a clear, accessible version that aims to tell the original story in a pacier, more direct way than a full translation can.

Written with a faithful attention to detail but with the general reader in mind, this book brings to life all the wonderful scenes and characters from Homer's poem, from Odysseus' encounter with the young princess Nausicaa and his meeting with the ghosts of his old comrades Achilles and Agamemnon to his escape from the monster Scylla and the whirlpool Charybdis. We follow Odysseus as he returns to his home island of Ithaca to reclaim his palace from the odious suitors and is reunited with his family.

An unforgettable tale that has had untold influence on western literature, the Odyssey is also a profound and moving portrait of survival, exile and homecoming. This new version, which contains extensive notes analysing Homer's themes and artistry, aims to refresh the appeal of this immortal masterpiece for today's readers.

Ratings and reviews

Eminently readable🙂🏛I thought I knew the Odyssey but learned extra from this reader friendly Chris Tryhorn prose translation. I thought Odysseus's 20 year trek from Troy to Ithaca & the obstacles to his return were the bulk of Homer's epic followup to The Iliad. The sections about Telemachus, Odysseus's son, his wife Penelope & her many treacherous suitors took up much more of the tale than I had anticipated & I was surprised to find humor in everyone telling Penelope to go take a bath. 👍

About the author

Chris Tryhorn studied Classics at University College, Oxford. He has worked as a journalist, researcher, university lecturer and tutor. He writes about film for the Guardian.