Penn professor Emily Wilson's translation of 'The Odyssey' has more than a million readers including Christopher Nolan
University of Pennsylvania professor Emily Wilson has seen a surge in interest for her translation of 'The Odyssey' following its connection to a new film adaptation directed by Christopher Nolan. The article explores the intersection of classical literature and modern pop culture.
Why it matters
It highlights how contemporary media can revitalize interest in classical texts and academic work for a broader audience.
Nolan’s film crew, Wilson learned, had just left the Greek town where she was now staying. As she walked along the beach, the University of Pennsylvania professor imagined what scenes of adventure had been conjured on the ground where she stood.
The seductively scary sirens calling out to Odysseus? The giant Cyclops who eats his men? (Spoiler alert: It was the latter, shot at Nestor’s Cave in nearby Messenia .)
Nolan’s film was a thrilling prospect for the classicist who made her name penning a quick-paced and strikingly contemporary translation of the nearly 2,700-year-old story for modern audiences. While the Oppenheimer director wrote his own version for the big screen, along with partner-collaborator Emma Thomas, he has cited several translations, including Wilson’s , as references.
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