The Odyssey

Homer’s epic of Ulysses (Odysseus), who wanders for ten years after the fall of Troy before he can return to Ithaca, where suitors are courting his wife Penelope; in Samuel Butler’s prose translation.

Start reading24 books, about 118,000 words

Famous lines

• Tell me, O Muse, of that ingenious hero who travelled far and wide after he had sacked the famous town of Troy.

  Book IIn context

  • Poetry

• See now, how men lay blame upon us gods for what is after all nothing but their own folly.

  Book IIn context

  • God
  • Responsibility

• There is nothing better in this world than that man and wife should be of one mind in a house.

  Book VIIn context

  • Marriage

• There is nothing dearer to a man than his own country and his parents, and however splendid a home he may have in a foreign country, if it be far from father or mother, he does not care about it.

  Book IXIn context

  • Family
  • Patriotism

• Man is the vainest of all creatures that have their being upon earth.

  Book XVIIIIn context

  • Men
  • Pride

Contents

1. Book I
2. Book II
3. Book III
4. Book IV
5. Book V
6. Book VI
7. Book VII
8. Book VIII
9. Book IX
10. Book X
11. Book XI
12. Book XII
13. Book XIII
14. Book XIV
15. Book XV
16. Book XVI
17. Book XVII
18. Book XVIII
19. Book XIX
20. Book XX
21. Book XXI
22. Book XXII
23. Book XXIII
24. Book XXIV