A Classic Revisited

THE ODYSSEY. Homer. Translated by Anthony Verity. Introduction by William Allan. Oxford University Classics.

Cover courtesy of Oxford University Press.

Oxford’s new translation of arguably the greatest poem in the the canons of Western literature is certainly a must-see for devotees to the classics. Here, noted classical scholar Anthony Verity (Head of Classics at Bristol Grammar School; Headmaster of Leeds Grammar School; Master of Dulwich) goes back to Homer’s original vision, stressing each word’s function within the structure of an individual line. This approach is not often seen in modern interpretations of Homer’s great poem, yet it serves the work unbelievably well, allowing the reader to experience the rhythm of the language as it builds into crashing crescendo. Finally, William Allan’s introduction reigns vast in tone: As one of the foremost scholars in classical Greek Tragedy, Allan is able to reveal (and then unlock) doors to The Odyssey that are not immediately visible.

by John Aiello