Is it ever too late to read one of the foundational works of Western literature?
In this inaugural installment of “Books I Haven’t Read—and Why Should I Read Them?”, host Joel Sellier sits down with fellow faculty Gerard “Babo” Babendreier, Justin Myers, and Joe Bissex to discuss Homer’s Odyssey: why it remains essential reading, where a first-time reader should begin, and what an ancient epic can still teach modern readers about home, loyalty, pride, suffering, and love.
The conversation also explores the challenges and possibilities of translation, with the guests comparing versions by Robert Fagles, Robert Fitzgerald, Stanley Lombardo, and Emily Wilson. They consider when young readers are ready for the poem, whether it should be read aloud as a family, and why knowing Homer’s original story can deepen our appreciation of its countless adaptations.
Along the way, Joe discusses Sons of Ithaca, his theatrical reimagining of scenes from The Odyssey, and the group reflects on some of the epic’s most memorable figures and episodes: Odysseus’s long journey home, Penelope’s fidelity, Telemachus’s formation, the death of the faithful dog Argoas, and the hero’s encounters with gods, monsters, strangers, and his own weaknesses.