The Odyssey
The Odyssey tells of Odysseus's ten-year journey home from the Trojan War to the island of Ithaca, where his wife Penelope holds off a crowd of suitors and his son Telemachus has grown up without him. The poem's twenty-four books include the episodes that have become proverbial, the Cyclops, the Sirens, Circe, the descent to the dead, the return in disguise and the slaughter of the suitors, but it is also a poem about hospitality, loyalty and recognition. Composed in Greek around the eighth century BC and attributed to Homer, it is presented here in the blank-verse translation by the American poet William Cullen Bryant, published in 1871 and 1872, which is clear and dignified and moves at close to a novel's pace. Read it online in your browser on Vinteuil; 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 Odyssey
The Odyssey by Homer 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 Odyssey online?
Yes. 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 Odyssey free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter 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 Odyssey in the public domain?
Yes. The Odyssey by Homer is a public-domain work, here in the translation by William Cullen Bryant. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Odyssey?
About 7 h 59 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 Odyssey?
The Odyssey by Homer is filed under "Poetry" in the Vinteuil library.
