I listened to the Audible version read by Claire Danes. It was accompanied by a very long foreword and note from the translator, which I actually enjoyed more than the story itself. These gave a lot of context in terms of how the Odyssey influenced culture in Ancient Greece, and how it continues to do so today; other works that referenced it, and how the translator made the decisions she did when translating it into modern English.
I had read at least an abbreviated version in high school but I didn’t remember it very well. The version in modern English was I think far easier to read, and I felt better doing so after listening to the translator’s note that said archaic English is no closer to the original Greek than is modern English, so you might as well translate it in such a way that will resonate with your own time! I also listened to most of it while in Santorini, so that gave it a lot more gravitas.
My rating: ***
