The first great adventure story in the Western canon, the Odyssey is a poem about violence and the aftermath of war; about wealth, poverty, and power; about marriage, family, and identity; and about travelers, hospitality, and the changing meanings of home in a strange world. This vivid new translation matches the number of lines in the Greek original, following the vibrant rhythm of Homer. Emily Wilson uses plain, resonant language and metrical pentameter to produce a translation with a captivating "rhythmic and thundering" quality that avoids declaring its own grandeur. An engaging narrative expressed in an exciting new voice, allowing contemporary readers to enjoy Homer's descriptions and similes while being thrilled by the intensity and adrenaline of the hero's adventures, Wilson recaptures what is "epic" in this source of world literature.