Historians assume The Odyssey was written around 800 B.C. Passed down orally, many scholars believe it originated with one single man. However, some believe that “Homer” was a common name for blind travelers who made a living wandering around Greece reciting poetry. Though we no longer live in a storytelling culture, over the years countless translators have given us their own versions of The Odyssey—varying in style, tone and length.Over 60 complete English translations exist today (see a mostly complete list here).
We currently carry five translations here at Exodus Books. Two are prose versions, and the rest are in poetic form. (Click here to view an exclusive comparison chart which features five selections from the poem.)
One of the two prose versions is by Samuel Butler (1890). Butler's version is used by the Memoria Press study guides and the SMARR student literature companions. This version is in public domain and can be read online for free.
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