by Emily Wilson
First published 2026
Emily Wilson tackles the complex decisions that face translators working with ancient literature. The celebrated translator of Homer's Odyssey and Iliad draws from two decades of scholarly work and hands-on translation practice to reveal how translators navigate impossible choices and discover fresh approaches to age-old challenges. Wilson moves from Helen of Troy's political dimensions to Aristophanes' crude humor, from Roman adaptations of Greek originals to current arguments between "foreignizing" and "domesticating" translation methods. She shows how contemporary perspectives on gender, sexuality, violence, and authority shape our understanding of classical works. Wilson argues that translation inevitably risks stripping away the foreign and unusual qualities that make ancient cultures distinctive. The book serves multiple purposes: it introduces Greek and Roman literature to newcomers, advocates for translation's importance in our changing world, and encourages fresh encounters with ancient civilizations.
Genres: classics, literary-fiction, criticism, academic
Vibes: intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: academic, expert
Setting: Greece, Rome
Period: Ancient
288 pages · Paperback · Liveright