Stephen Mitchell is widely known for his ability to make old classics thrillingly new. His many books include the bestselling TAO TE CHING, GILGAMESH, THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JESUS, THE BOOK OF JOB, BHAGAVAD GITA, THE ILIAD and THE SELECTED POETRY OF RAINER MARIA RILKE. His website is www.stephenmitchellbooks.com.
Stephen Mitchell is one of the great translators, and his version of the Odyssey is a masterpiece of clarity, directness and a kind of blunt musicality which catches perfectly the pitch of the true Homeric voice. -- John Banville, author of The Sea Stephen Mitchell's faithful translation of the Odyssey has great vigor, and a plain eloquence that is quite free of pedantry. It does not plod. Its narrative drive is so compelling that the reader will find himself speaking the lines aloud, as I did. -- Richard Wilbur, former Poet Laureate of the United States and twice winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry This latest incarnation of the Odyssey leaves no doubt that Stephen Mitchell has made a deep connection to the tale's spiritual power, which he has managed to express with propulsive cadence and in exquisite detail. The bard sings again, this time at the banquet of Mitchell's ardent labor. -- Billy Collins, former Poet Laureate of the United States Yet again, one of today's gifted, knowing scholars and writers embraces one of the masterpieces of yore, and so doing offers us the Odyssey as a wise and stirring companion for our own personal voyage through time and life's many stirring, worrying, enabling moments. -- Robert Coles This new translation is one of the best: clear and poetic without losing the essential kinetic energy of the first adventure tale. THE CATHOLIC HERALD Stephen Mitchell is one of the great translators, and his version of the Odyssey is a masterpiece of clarity, directness and a kind of blunt musicality which catches perfectly the pitch of the true Homeric voice. -- John Banville, author of The Sea Stephen Mitchell's faithful translation of the Odyssey has great vigor, and a plain eloquence that is quite free of pedantry. It does not plod. Its narrative drive is so compelling that the reader will find himself speaking the lines aloud, as I did. -- Richard Wilbur, former Poet Laureate of the United States and twice winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry This latest incarnation of the Odyssey leaves no doubt that Stephen Mitchell has made a deep connection to the tale's spiritual power, which he has managed to express with propulsive cadence and in exquisite detail. The bard sings again, this time at the banquet of Mitchell's ardent labor. -- Billy Collins, former Poet Laureate of the United States Yet again, one of today's gifted, knowing scholars and writers embraces one of the masterpieces of yore, and so doing offers us the Odyssey as a wise and stirring companion for our own personal voyage through time and life's many stirring, worrying, enabling moments. -- Robert Coles This new translation is one of the best: clear and poetic without losing the essential kinetic energy of the first adventure tale. THE CATHOLIC HERALD