Emily Wilson’s Pan of ‘The Odyssey’ Ignites a Debate Among Classicists and Commenters (Gift Article)

How Emily Wilson’s Takedown of ‘The Odyssey’ Ignited a Debate www.nytimes.com/2026/07/31/a...

ummm. the Odyssey has one hero. You want to change that, but hate any others? “Most of the non-white actors — Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Himesh Patel, Corey Antonio Hawkins, Travis Scott — play versions of the Black best friend, whose only role in the drama is to provide aid to the white protagonist”

“It has nothing convincing to say about time, memory, history, war, or about the relationship between one warrior’s glorious return and the lives of his family, adversaries, comrades, friends and neighbors. It lacks psychological, emotional, political and ethical depth. The writing is abysmal.”

Anyone remember the "Querelle d'Homère" featuring Anne Dacier, first female translator of the Iliad and the Odyssey? (NYT gift article) www.nytimes.com/2026/07/31/a...

The Wilson LRB review made it into the Times ♥️ www.nytimes.com/2026/07/31/a...

“How Emily Wilson’s Takedown of ‘The Odyssey’ Ignited a Debate Wilson, whose 2017 translation of Homer’s Greek classic influenced the director Christopher Nolan, panned his screenplay for the movie version in an essay for The London Review of Books.” www.nytimes.com/2026/07/31/a...

Emily Wilson's "4,000-plus-word takedown of this year’s most-talked-about movie appeared to temporarily crash The LRB’s website and fueled a debate over balancing commercial success with literary authenticity." www.nytimes.com/2026/07/31/a...

The Discourse persists.

I think it's great that classical literature has its moment, but this is turning into an acrimonious debate which is districting from the valid criticisms of the film. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/31/a...

How Emily Wilson’s Takedown of ‘The Odyssey’ Ignited a Debate www.nytimes.com/2026/07/31/a...

Nothing like a little concocted controversy around another Hollywood film and history, like 1000 other Hollywood films and history to spike ticket sales. Whose side are you on, better go see it, or see it again.

Times Odyssey Watch Day 14: Having already covered the fashions in "The Odyssey," we are now at MetaOdyssey Phase: how scholars are debating the film. Coverage will continue with "Nolan Prepares for Oscars Snub" and "Will Gen Z Abstinence Ruin 'The Odyssey' Drinking Games for Streaming Services?"

Wilson, whose 2017 translation of Homer’s Greek classic influenced the director Christopher Nolan, panned his screenplay for the movie version in an essay for The London Review of Books. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/31/a...

I enjoyed the film AND enjoyed @emilyrcwilson.bsky.social's criticism. (And learned from both!). Now I plan to read her translations. So there's that.

www.nytimes.com/2026/07/31/a...

Her review made me feel glad I never took a class with her. How Emily Wilson’s Takedown of ‘The Odyssey’ Ignited a Debate www.nytimes.com/2026/07/31/a...

How Emily Wilson’s Takedown of ‘The Odyssey’ Ignited a Debate www.nytimes.com/2026/07/31/a... This “debate” is ridiculous. Nolan wasn’t faithful to the Batman and Joker source material, either. But because The Odyssey has been around for so long, some people treat it as if it was revealed wisdom.

How Emily Wilson’s Takedown of ‘The Odyssey’ Ignited a Debate www.nytimes.com/2026/07/31/a...

[NYT] EMILY WILSON’S PAN OF ‘THE ODYSSEY’ IGNITES A DEBATE AMONG CLASSICISTS AND COMMENTERS