Scholars have called Homer's Odyssey "the greatest tale of all time," "the first novel," "the first expression of the mind in literary form," and "the best story ever written." Of this version, Dudley Fitts wrote: "The best translation of Homer that I have ever read is by W.H.D. Rouse."
For all readers . . . W. H. D. Rouse says in his preface: "Those who like thrillers and detective novels will find excitement enough here . . . Those who like fairy tales will find nothing better . . . Those who like psychology will find plenty to entertain in the characters, both gods and men . . . Those who like delicacies of deep feeling will find it in Penelope and her husband whose meeting is one of the supreme scenes of human life."