Odysseus, the Hero of Ithaca

by Homer

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Pages: 112

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About this book

Greek gods, sea crossings, and a threatened household give this children's prose retelling of Homer's stories its shape. Adapted by Mary E. Burt and Zenaïde A. Ragozin from a reader used in Greek schools, it begins with Troy and Paris's departure for Greece before turning to Odysseus's efforts to reach Ithaca. Its chapters carry the account through islands, strange beings, and encounters with figures from Greek myth.

Homecoming brings its own difficulties. On Ithaca, Athena helps Odysseus hide his gifts and disguises him as an old beggar before sending him to the loyal swineherd Eumaios. Penelope faces unwanted suitors in the palace, while Telemachos seeks news of his father. The introduction explains the editors' wish to use clear language for young readers while preserving the dignity of the stories. Readers meeting Homer for the first time can follow the action in prose and consult the included vocabulary and notes.

About the author

Homer

Homer was the ancient Greek poet traditionally credited with the Iliad and the Odyssey, the foundational epics of Western literature. Though little is known of his life, his influence is incalculable.