Emily Wilson’s ‘Odyssey’ became a cultural flashpoint. Now, she’s retranslating the whole thing

Emily Wilson, known for her groundbreaking 2017 translation of Homer's "The Odyssey" – the first major English-language version by a woman – is preparing to translate the epic poem once more. Wilson, a professor of classical studies at the University of Pennsylvania, recently spoke with The Associated Press from her home in Philadelphia, where she is midway through the new translation.

She explained that this is a complete retranslation, not a revision of her previous work. Wilson emphasized that she has become more sophisticated in her translation methods since the 2017 edition, which was a bestseller and a cultural lightning rod prior to Christopher Nolan's blockbuster film adaptation. During the interview, Wilson also touched on her views on fame, her disdain for Rick Riordan's "Percy Jackson" books, and her growing admiration for Stoic philosophy.