The Odyssey (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)

The Odyssey by Homer, translated by Robert Fagles, with introduction and notes by Bernard Knox

One of the foundational works of Western literature, this epic poem follows Odysseus, king of Ithaca, on his perilous ten-year journey home after the fall of Troy. Battling monsters, vengeful gods, and the whims of fate, Odysseus faces trial after trial — from the deadly song of the Sirens and the wrath of the Cyclops Polyphemus to the temptations of the sorceress Circe and the seductive nymph Calypso — all while his wife Penelope and son Telemachus hold out hope for his return amid a household overrun by suitors.

This celebrated Penguin Classics edition features Robert Fagles's widely praised translation, renowned for capturing the poem's dramatic energy and lyrical power in vivid, contemporary English while remaining faithful to the rhythms and spirit of the original ancient Greek. Bernard Knox's illuminating introduction offers essential historical and literary context, helping readers appreciate the poem's origins, structure, and enduring influence on storytelling across the centuries.

A timeless tale of perseverance, cunning, hospitality, and the pull of home, The Odyssey has shaped literature, art, and culture for nearly three thousand years. This edition remains an essential entry point for readers encountering Homer for the first time, as well as a valued reference for students and scholars of classical literature.