Diving into the words of Emily Wilson
Take a deeper look at the introduction to Wilson’s epic translation
Hey readers! Today, we’re back on the podcast with a special treat for all our listeners. We’re releasing a Patreon exclusive episode on the feed for everyone—our first epic dive into all things Odysseus as we discuss the introduction from Emily Wilson’s translation. There is a lot to unpack in Wilson’s intro, with key insights and additional layers of context we can use as we consider the deeper themes and meanings beyond Odysseus’ adventures. While introductions can sometimes be the source of “spoiler” material, we keep our deep dive in this episode relatively spoiler-free.
If you’re interested in joining our summer Odyssey adventures, this introduction episode is our way of saying, welcome! You can join us any time, no need to catch up or read on schedule. Our resources are available to you, and we understand the need to be flexible while continuing a journey with lifelong learning. We would love to have you in Classics Club.
Wilson does a great job setting guideposts to send readers on a successful journey when reading any translation. We are particularly drawn towards Wilson’s thorough explanation of hospitality and Xenia and how the Greek sense of hospitality is more than hosting a good dinner party for friends. For a quick breakdown, you can also check out this short video created by Greek Myth Comix.
In today’s episode, we dive into Wilson’s thoughts on Xenia, the Homeric Question, outlining what an epic poem is exactly, and how we can employ the feminist and psychoanalytic lenses during our reading. Make sure to download and listen wherever you get your podcasts.
More Links
Not sure if you want to read a classic’s introduction? This essay from Book Riot provides a balanced perspective to the conundrum of gaining context or being surprised by the plot points of older texts.
Speaking of introductions to classic texts, this article from The Atlantic shares six classic texts with introductions by contemporary authors that are well worth all the spoilers. (Brandon Taylor’s commentary on Edith Wharton’s writing? Sign us up. 🙌)
Need more graphic illustrations of the Greek Classics? Check out Greek Myth Comix’s website (created by author and illustrator L E Jenkinson-Brown) for more. You can find a listing of all Odyssey-related comics here.
Wilson as an author and translator maintains an online presence, sharing many thoughts about her work over on Twitter. This think-piece from the New Yorker in 2018 on how Wilson is redefining the space and role of scholar and translator is well worth the read.
We are in our mythology retelling era, and this authors and translators in conversation between Madeline Miller, Emily Wilson, and Maria Dahvana Headley is everything we need. Right. Now. (From the Center for Fiction)
Join us for Book Club!
Are you considering joining our Classics Club? Now is the time! We will be discussing the first half of The Odyssey together on Wednesday, June 28th at 7 pm EST. Come and discuss this classic with a community of enthusiastic bookworms.
And this level of nerdiness from today’s episode is everything you’ve been looking for, we hope you’ll join us over on Patreon. We love sharing our big English teacher energy with our members, and it’s never too late to join! In addition to book club, patrons of our Patreon also get access to our weekly recaps, past lectures and seminars, and the chance to build community with other bookworms on our Discord channel. For more information about our Patreon, visit patreon.com/novelpairings to sign up!
Final Words
Thanks for tuning in today all letting us share our thoughts and notes with you. We’ll be back soon with an episode all about big allusions in the classics. Until then, happy reading!
Thank you for supporting the podcast and our work to make public scholarship fun and accessible. If you would like you stay connected to what’s happening at Novel Pairings, make sure to sign up for our Substack and follow us over on Instagram. You can make sure you never miss an episode of the podcast by subscribing to the show wherever you get your podcasts. And if you love the work we’re doing, make sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!