Homer

The Odyssey besides being one of the world''s first adventure stories is a poem of great subtlety rich in irony and sophisticated characterization. The poet''s art is amply illustrated by books XIX and XX in which Odysseus disguised as a beggar spends the night in his own palace and lays plans for his awesome revenge. Particularly memorable is the episode in which Penelope converses with her husband without suspecting his identity. In this edition Richard Rutherford provides not only detailed comment on the action characterization and style of the books in question but also in an extensive introduction a general survey of the Odyssey as a whole laying special emphasis on the qualities of the second half of the poem. He also attempts to contribute to the literary criticism of the poem on a verbal level by considering the poet''s use of formulae rhetorical technique and similes. This volume is intended for readers of the Odyssey at all stages. The commentary gives extensive linguistic guidance for beginners; and the introduction in which all Greek is translated is intended to be accessible to any readers interested in Homer as a poet.