Emily Wilson, celebrated for her groundbreaking 2017 translation of Homer’s “The Odyssey”—the first complete English version by a woman—is currently engaged in a full retranslation of the epic poem. This ambitious undertaking is not merely a revision but a complete re-evaluation, initiated less than a decade after her critically acclaimed initial work.
Wilson’s new translation methodology marks a departure from her 2017 approach, which meticulously maintained the original’s line count. Influenced by her 2023 translation of “The Iliad,” the forthcoming “Odyssey” will allow for “somewhat more lines than the original” and “more varied word-length and pacing.” She also plans to significantly expand the scholarly apparatus, stating her intention to “quadrupl[e] the number of endnotes.” A primary motivation for this retranslation stems from her reassessment of specific Greek terms, notably the word “slave.” Wilson aims to employ “more precise terminology” to better convey the diverse forms of enslavement depicted in the ancient text, believing her previous translation overused the term. Despite these significant changes, the iconic opening line of her 2017 translation, “Tell me about a complicated man,” will “probably” remain unchanged.
This retranslation effort began before the public discourse surrounding Christopher Nolan’s 2026 film adaptation of “The Odyssey.” Wilson had discussed her intent to retranslate in interviews as early as spring 2026, predating the film’s July 2026 release and her subsequent public criticism. Nolan’s film, released just two months ago, was influenced by Wilson’s 2017 translation, with the director specifically citing its opening line. Following the film’s debut, Wilson became a vocal critic, describing the adaptation as “abysmal” due to its writing, lack of sex scenes, and absence of psychological, emotional, political, and ethical depth. She stated she “would be ashamed to have written any part of this script.” Her criticism elicited strong public and literary reactions, including an accusation of “haughty superiority” from novelist Joyce Carol Oates.
Despite her strong critique, Nolan’s film adaptation has spurred an unprecedented surge in sales for Wilson’s 2017 “Odyssey” translation. Domestically, the translation has now sold over 1 million copies. In the United Kingdom, print sales increased by 1,400% in the four weeks following the film’s July 2026 release, and Audible purchases saw a year-over-year rise of over 600%.
Within academic and publishing circles, undertaking a complete retranslation of the same canonical text by the same translator within a decade, especially after a highly successful first version, is regarded as “unusual” and “practically unprecedented.” An official from the American Translators Association could not recall a prior instance of such a scenario. Wilson acknowledges that her publisher considered the decision “very controversial” and anticipates it may create confusion for teachers and readers navigating two distinct versions by the same translator. The retranslation process is currently approximately halfway complete.