Literature
Where to Start with Homer
The Iliad and the Odyssey can look intimidating, but they are among the most gripping stories ever told. Here is a friendly guide to reading them for the first time.
For the ancient Greeks, Homer was simply the poet. Children learned to read with his verses, philosophers argued about his gods, and generals carried his poems on campaign. Nearly three thousand years later, the Iliad and the Odyssey are still bestsellers. If you have always meant to read them but never quite started, this guide is for you.
Which one first?
Most readers find the Odyssey easier to begin with. It is an adventure story full of monsters, magic, disguises and a satisfying homecoming, and its hero, the wily Odysseus, is great company. The Iliad is darker and more concentrated: a few weeks of war, much of it fighting, building to one of the most moving endings in literature. Either works, but if you are unsure, start with the journey home.
Choosing a translation
There is no single best translation, only the best one for you. A few favourites:
- Emily Wilson (Odyssey 2017, Iliad 2023): clear, fast and modern, ideal for first-time readers.
- Robert Fagles (Iliad 1990, Odyssey 1996): energetic and dramatic, with superb introductions by Bernard Knox.
- Richmond Lattimore (Iliad 1951, Odyssey 1967): very close to the Greek, line by line, and a favourite of students.
- Caroline Alexander (Iliad 2015): accurate, spare and powerful.
Read the first page of two or three in a bookshop or a library and choose the voice you enjoy.
Tips for the journey
- Read it aloud. These poems were made to be performed, and the rhythm carries you along.
- Do not worry about the names. Many minor characters appear only once. Keep a list of the main players or use the glossary at the back.
- Embrace the repetition. Phrases such as rosy-fingered Dawn and swift-footed Achilles were tools for poets performing from memory. They soon become comforting landmarks.
- Skim the catalogue if you must. Book 2 of the Iliad contains a long list of the Greek ships. It fascinated ancient listeners, but it is fine to skim on a first read.
- Take it in sittings. Each poem is divided into 24 books. One or two books a day will see you through in a few weeks.
Going further
Once you have finished, you might enjoy retellings that look at the stories from new angles, such as Madeline Miller’s The Song of Achilles and Circe, or Pat Barker’s The Silence of the Girls, narrated by the captive Briseis. Then go back to Homer. Like all great books, the poems change each time you read them, because you have changed too.
