'Odyssey' Translator Emily Wilson Is Starting Over After Calling Christopher Nolan's Blockbuster Film 'Abysmal'
Nearly a decade after her acclaimed first translation was released, Wilson is taking a fresh approach to Homer's ancient Greek epic
Nine years after being the first female to publish an English translation of Homer's Odyssey, classicist Emily Wilson of the University of Pennsylvania claims she is embarking on a fresh retranslation of the epic poem. Having already completed about half of the work, Wilson's new translation will differ drastically from her previous version, published in 2017 and praised by critics.
In a statement to the New York Times, she explained her approach will involve a more varied word length and pacing, as well as more extensive endnotes. The Guardian's Edith Hall previously noted stylistic and tonal differences between Wilson's translations of The Odyssey and The Iliad, with the Iliad version featuring a more complex poetic voice.
Wilson's recent criticism of Christopher Nolan's blockbuster film adaptation of The Odyssey has drawn significant public attention. She described the film's narrative and writing as "abysmal" and expressed shame at the idea of contributing to the script. Despite the controversy, Wilson is committed to her retranslation project, which she hopes will provide a more accurate and nuanced representation of Homer's work.
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