Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation of The Odyssey has sent readers back to Homer’s ancient poem, lifting demand for print, ebook and audiobook editions as Emily Wilson’s modern translation becomes the bestselling US version this year.
The increase began after Nolan announced the film in December 2024 and accelerated around its July 17, 2026 theatrical release. The trend is affecting bookstores and libraries while introducing the nearly 3,000-year-old story to a new audience.
How much have The Odyssey sales increased?
US print sales across all editions of The Odyssey have risen 76% year to date, according to Circana BookScan data reported by Publishers Weekly.
BookScan gathers information from major retailers and independent bookstores, covering approximately 85% of the US trade-print market. Its figures do not include every copy sold but provide a substantial picture of national demand.
Wilson’s translation, published by W.W. Norton & Company, leads current sales. Robert Fagles’ Penguin Classics edition and Gareth Hinds’ graphic-novel adaptation are also among the strongest-selling versions.
W.W. Norton told USA TODAY that domestic sales of Wilson’s translation have surpassed one million copies this year. The publisher said demand started increasing after Nolan’s film was announced.
Libraries and audiobooks are seeing greater demand
Checkouts of The Odyssey through the digital library service Libby have reportedly increased 217% compared with the same period last year. Global listening for audiobooks of the poem on Spotify has risen by more than 300%.
Wilson’s edition accounts for about 90% of print holds for The Odyssey at the New York Public Library and 57% of its ebook and audiobook holds. Readers may therefore encounter waiting lists while interest surrounding the film remains high.
Why Emily Wilson’s translation is different
Published in 2017, Wilson’s work was the first complete English translation of Homer’s Greek Odyssey by a woman. Women had previously created retellings and translations in other languages, making “first complete English translation by a woman” the most accurate description.
Wilson, a professor of classical studies at the University of Pennsylvania, uses contemporary English while preserving a formal poetic structure. Her version follows the original poem closely in length and uses unrhymed iambic pentameter to maintain its pace.
Words such as “daddy,” “crazy” and “tote bag” make the language feel immediate. Some readers welcome that accessibility, while others believe certain expressions sound too modern for an ancient epic.
Her opening describes Odysseus as a “complicated man,” presenting him as more than a conventional hero. He is intelligent and determined but also deceptive, violent and responsible for decisions that harm others.
Why the translation is described as feminist
Wilson’s edition pays close attention to women, enslaved people and unequal power relationships. She frequently identifies enslaved characters as slaves rather than using softer terms such as servants or maids.
One significant difference concerns the enslaved women killed after Odysseus returns to Ithaca. Some previous English translations used derogatory labels for them. Wilson uses “girls,” arguing that insults such as “sluts” or “whores” have no direct equivalent in the Greek passage.
She also gives greater weight to Penelope’s grief and isolation during her husband’s absence. This encourages readers to consider the emotional cost of the marriage and Penelope’s limited choices rather than viewing her only as a symbol of loyalty.
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Did Christopher Nolan use Wilson’s version?
Nolan consulted several translations while writing the screenplay, including editions by Wilson, Fagles and E.V. Rieu. He has discussed Wilson’s interpretation of the opening line, but the movie is not a direct adaptation of her book.
Matt Damon plays Odysseus, while Tom Holland appears as his son, Telemachus. Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o and Charlize Theron are also part of the cast.
More details are available in this guide to Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey cast and adaptation.
Why the word “dad” caused controversy
The trailer prompted debate after Telemachus referred to Odysseus as “dad” instead of “father.” Holland and Nolan defended the wording as emotionally natural.
Wilson also argued that “father” is not automatically more authentic. Ancient characters did not speak English, so every English version uses modern language. Complete linguistic authenticity would require the film to be performed in Homeric Greek.
Which edition should new readers choose?
Wilson’s translation suits beginners seeking clear language, fast pacing and greater attention to the poem’s treatment of women and slavery. Fagles offers a more elevated but accessible voice, while Richmond Lattimore remains closer to the Greek structure.
Hinds’ graphic novel provides a visual introduction for younger readers or moviegoers who mainly want to understand the story. The way film adaptations can renew interest in classic literature is also visible in the relationship between the Animal Farm movie and George Orwell’s original book.
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