Image Source: The Guardian
Translator Emily Wilson is returning to Homer’s The Odyssey less than a decade after publishing the English version that made her internationally celebrated. Wilson has confirmed that she is retranslating the ancient Greek epic from scratch, rather than revising her acclaimed 2017 edition.
The ambitious project comes during an extraordinary resurgence of interest in Homer. Christopher Nolan’s major film adaptation of The Odyssey, released in July 2026, has driven audiences back to the original poem and sent sales of modern translations sharply higher.
A bold new chapter for translator Emily Wilson
Wilson told the New York Times that the new version will follow an approach closer to her translation of The Iliad. That method will use somewhat more lines than the original Greek text, allowing her to create greater variation in word length, rhythm and pacing.
“It’s a complete retranslation. It’s not a revision of the old version,” Wilson told the Associated Press. She added that she is currently about halfway through the work.
Her first translation of The Odyssey, published in 2017, was widely praised for making the 3,000-year-old poem feel direct, energetic and accessible to contemporary readers. It also made Wilson the first woman to translate Homer’s Odyssey into English.
One of the most recognizable features of that edition was its opening line: “Tell me about a complicated man.” Wilson has indicated that she will probably retain the sentence, which became closely associated with her interpretation of the wandering hero Odysseus.
Powerful changes to language and commentary
The forthcoming edition will not simply change the poem’s rhythm. Wilson also plans to reconsider some of the language used to describe social structures in Homer’s world.
She has said that her original translation relied too heavily on the word “slave”. In the new version, she hopes to use more precise terminology that better reflects the different forms of enslavement represented in the epic.
Readers can also expect a much larger scholarly apparatus. Wilson plans to quadruple the number of endnotes, saying that the additional commentary will allow her to explore the poem’s language, history and interpretive possibilities in greater detail.
- The new edition will be translated completely from scratch.
- Wilson is using an approach with more lines and varied pacing.
- The opening sentence may remain unchanged.
- Language describing enslavement will receive closer attention.
- The number of endnotes is expected to increase fourfold.
The Odyssey boom after Christopher Nolan’s film
Wilson’s announcement follows a dramatic cultural moment for Homer’s poem. Nolan’s film, starring Tom Holland, Zendaya, Matt Damon and Anne Hathaway, earned $264 million during its opening weekend worldwide, marking the director’s strongest debut at the global box office.
The success also created a powerful boost for poetry sales. UK print sales of The Odyssey rose by 1,400% in the four weeks to July 25 compared with the same period in 2025, according to figures reported by The Guardian.
Nolan has cited Wilson’s 2017 translation as an influence on his adaptation, including its memorable opening line. However, Wilson later delivered a severe public assessment of the film in the London Review of Books.
She argued that Nolan’s version omitted important elements that give Homer’s poem its power. Wilson described the writing as “abysmal” and criticized the characters’ motivations, the lack of sex scenes and the unappealing presentation of food. She said she would be ashamed to have written any part of the screenplay.
Her comments prompted a strong reaction from novelist Joyce Carol Oates, who accused Wilson of “haughty superiority”. The dispute placed the translator at the center of a wider conversation about literary fidelity, adaptation and who gets to define the meaning of a classic work.
Why retranslation matters
Wilson’s decision to revisit The Odyssey is unusual, but literary translators have often returned to earlier work. Matthew Reynolds, professor of English and comparative criticism at Oxford University, said that translation is not simply a question of right or wrong.
Instead, he described literary translation as a continuing process of “interpretive reimagining and re-making”. A new edition can reflect changes in a translator’s thinking, shifts in cultural language and fresh discoveries about the original text.
Wilson’s revised choices may therefore offer more than an alternative to her bestselling edition. They could reveal how her understanding of Homer has evolved through years of teaching, scholarship and public discussion.
No publication date has been announced for the new translation. Until then, readers will have the chance to compare Wilson’s first version with the choices emerging from this ambitious second journey through one of the world’s most influential epics.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Emily Wilson retranslating The Odyssey?
Wilson wants to approach Homer’s epic differently, using more lines, varied pacing and more precise language. She has emphasized that the project is a complete retranslation, not a revision.
When was Emily Wilson’s first translation published?
Wilson’s acclaimed English translation of The Odyssey was published in 2017. It became a bestseller and was praised for making the ancient poem accessible to modern readers.
Will the new translation keep the opening line?
Wilson has indicated that she will probably retain the opening sentence, “Tell me about a complicated man,” from her earlier edition.
How will the new edition differ from the first?
The new version is expected to use somewhat more lines, offer different pacing and include four times as many endnotes. Wilson also plans to reconsider terminology related to enslavement.
When will the new translation be published?
Wilson has not announced a publication date. She has said that the work is approximately halfway complete.
