Emily Wilson Retranslates The Odyssey After Nolan Film Critique — SkimNews
Get the Culture newsletter
Daily culture — film, music, books, the trends and ideas worth your attention. Free.
- Emily Wilson translated The Odyssey in 2017, producing the first major English version by a woman, which has sold more than 1 million copies
- Emily Wilson is now retranslating The Odyssey to better align with the pacing and style of her 2023 Iliad translation, calling the process 'compulsive' and artistically necessary
- Emily Wilson published a harsh review of Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation of The Odyssey, stating that criticism has a responsibility to tell the truth even when it sparks backlash
- Emily Wilson argues that film adaptations operate differently from translations, with the best ones actively resisting or reworking the original rather than seeking equivalence
- Gal Beckerman interviewed Wilson at the Atlantic Festival, pressing her on the gendered assumptions around her translation and the cultural reaction to her film critique
- Wilson rejects simplistic narratives about identity shaping translation, saying she doesn’t consciously make choices based on being a woman but acknowledges cultural and scholarly influences
Why it matters: Wilson’s retranslation and public critique challenge the idea that canonical works are fixed or immune to scrutiny, showing how translators—especially those from underrepresented perspectives—can shift cultural engagement with ancient texts. Her million-selling Odyssey proves accessibility doesn’t require dilution, while her stance on criticism upholds rigor over popularity.
Ask SkimNews
