For those that don't like spoilers, it's best if you skip the introduction and read/listen to it after you're done with the poem. This was great for someone who already knows the story and wants to learn more before getting into Odysseus's tale. The intro goes into great detail about the controversies about the poem's origins and dives deeply into the poem's many themes. One of the best and worst parts about this version was the introduction to the poem. It has a little bit of everything (magic, monsters, gods, suitors, shipwrecks, action) and touches on so many themes (violence and the aftermath of war, poverty, wealth, marriage and family, betrayal, yearning for ones home, hospitality) that is is easy to see why this poem is so important and how it has inspired many stories to this day. For such a simple premise, the scope is vast. The epic poem relates the story of Odysseus and his trials on his return journey home after the Trojan war. More on that below.For anyone who doesn't know, The Odyssey was written by Homer somewhere around 800 BC. Given that the story comes from a time of oral tradition I decided to try out the audio book, which I think was the right idea but the wrong narrator for me. I'm happy that I found a different translation to try which made this a much more enjoyable and engaging read. Since then I've learned just how important the translator is when choosing to read ancient classics. I had attempted to read The Odyssey once before and failed miserably.
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