The Authoress of the Odyssey
Where and when she wrote, who she was, the use she made of the Iliad, and how the poem grew under her hands
In The Authoress of the Odyssey, published in 1897, Samuel Butler, the author of Erewhon, argues that the Odyssey was written not by Homer but by a young woman living at Trapani in western Sicily, who portrayed herself in the poem as the princess Nausicaa. Butler retells the poem book by book, then builds his case from its details: the prominence and sympathy given to women, the mistakes about ships and animals that a man would not make, and the coastline of Trapani matched against the poem's geography. Part literary detective story, part provocation, the book is argued with wit and real knowledge of the Greek, and it still finds readers willing to be persuaded. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about The Authoress of the Odyssey
The Authoress of the Odyssey by Samuel Butler can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Authoress of the Odyssey online?
Yes. The Authoress of the Odyssey opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The Authoress of the Odyssey free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Authoress of the Odyssey is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Authoress of the Odyssey in the public domain?
Yes. The Authoress of the Odyssey by Samuel Butler is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Authoress of the Odyssey?
About 7 h 14 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Authoress of the Odyssey?
The Authoress of the Odyssey by Samuel Butler is filed under "Poetry" in the Vinteuil library.
