T. E. Lawrence, The Odyssey of Homer

Chris Joyce (University of Cambridge)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 6.1.3: Middle-Eastern Arabic Writing and Culture: Modern and Contemporary.
Vol. editors: Ziad Elmarsafy (King's College London), Joseph Farag (University of Minnesota), Claire Gallien (Université Paul Valéry Montpellier 3), Nora Parr (SOAS, University of London), Rita Sakr (Maynooth University), Anastasia Valassopoulos (University of Manchester)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1932

Places

England (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Translation

Resources

Towards the end of 1927, with Seven Pillars of Wisdom and The Mint behind him, Lawrence was approached by Bruce Rogers, an American book designer, to undertake a translation of Homer’s Odyssey. At first, he demurred – “Something about this Odyssey effort frightens me. … Homer is very very great: and so far away” [letter, 16 April 1928]; but he was at the same time – characteristically – attracted by the proposition, and offered a sample chapter (and to discuss fees). He was soon working steadily on the project. In his prefatory “Translator’s Note”, he offers a less exalted view of his subject than previously: “The author misses his every chance of greatness, as must all his …

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532 words

Citation: Joyce, Chris. "The Odyssey of Homer". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 22 September 2008 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=24738, accessed 24 November 2024.]

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