An epic journey of adventure, endurance, and the search for home
In The Odyssey, Homer crafts one of the oldest and most influential adventure stories in Western literature. The poem follows Odysseus, the cunning king of Ithaca, as he battles gods, monsters, and temptation on his ten-year quest to return home after the Trojan War. Facing shipwrecks, the wrath of Poseidon, and the allure of the witch-goddess Circe, Odysseus’s journey is a timeless exploration of loyalty, perseverance, and the human spirit.
As Penelope and Telemachus struggle to defend their home from unruly suitors, Odysseus must rely on his wit and courage to overcome every obstacle. The Odyssey’s vivid storytelling, mythical landscapes, and unforgettable characters have inspired readers for nearly three millennia.
Inside the book:
The legendary adventures of Odysseus, from the Cyclops and Sirens to the Underworld Themes of loyalty, identity, hospitality, the meaning of home, and resilience in the face of adversity A cast of gods, monsters, and mortals whose stories echo through history Modern translation and Introduction by Prof. Ian Johnston
Perfect for lovers of epic fiction, mythology, and classic literature, The Odyssey remains a must-read for anyone seeking adventure, wisdom, and insight into the human condition.
By:
Homer
Series edited by:
Tom Butler-Bowdon
Imprint: Capstone Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 205mm,
Width: 139mm,
Spine: 60mm
Weight: 765g
ISBN: 9781907326585
ISBN 10: 1907326588
Series: Capstone Classics
Pages: 672
Publication Date: 18 May 2026
Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Introduction by Ian Johnston vii Editor's Note on the Text xxxv About Ian Johnston xxxvii About Tom Butler-Bowdon xxxix The Odyssey xli Book One Athena Visits Ithaca 1 Book Two Telemachus Prepares for his Voyage 25 Book Three Telemachus Visits Nestor in Pylos 49 Book Four Telemachus Visits Menelaus in Sparta 75 Book Five Odysseus Leaves Calypso's Island and Reaches Phaeacia 119 Book Six Odysseus and Nausicaa 143 Book Seven Odysseus at the Court of Alcinous in Phaeacia 159 Book Eight Odysseus is Entertained in Phaeacia 177 Book Nine Ismarus, the Lotus- Eaters,and the Cyclops 207 Book Ten Aeolus, the Laestrygonians, and Circe 235 Book Eleven Odysseus Meets the Shades of the Dead 263 Book Twelve The Sirens, Scylla and Charybdis, The Cattle of the Sun 297 Book Thirteen Odysseus Leaves Phaeacia and Reaches Ithaca 321 Book Fourteen Odysseus Meets Eumaeus 343 Book Fifteen Telemachus Returns to Ithaca 371 Book Sixteen Odysseus Reveals Himself to Telemachus 399 Book Seventeen Odysseus Goes to the Palace as a Beggar 423 Book Eighteen Odysseus and Irus the Beggar 455 Book Nineteen Eurycleia Recognizes Odysseus 477 Book Twenty Odysseus Prepares for his Revenge 507 Book Twenty-One The Contest With Odysseus's Bow 527 Book Twenty-Two The Killing of the Suitors 549 Book Twenty-Three Odysseus and Penelope 575 Book Twenty-Four Zeus and Athena End the Fighting 595 Glossary of Names and Places 625
Homer was an ancient Greek poet believed to have lived in the 8th century BCE. He is the author of two of the most significant epic poems in Western literature, The Iliad and The Odyssey, celebrated for their narrative depth and exploration of human experience. Ian Johnston is Professor Emeritus of Vancouver Island University (formerly Malaspina University-College) in British Columbia, Canada, where he taught Classics and English. He has translated Aeschylus, Aristophanes, Aristotle, Homer, Ovid and Sophocles, and modern works by Kant, Kafka, Montaigne and Nietzsche. He is the author of The Ironies of War: An Introduction to Homer's Iliad (1987). Tom Butler-Bowdon is editor of the Capstone Classics series and has written introductions to Machiavelli's The Prince, Marcus Aurelius' Meditations, Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich, and Wallace Wattles' The Science of Getting Rich. A graduate of the London School of Economics, he is also the author of 50 Self-Help Classics, 50 Success Classics, and 50 Psychology Classics.
