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Collins Classics - The Odyssey
Collins Classics - The Odyssey | Homer
Literature's grandest evocation of life's journey, at once an ageless human story and an individual test of moral endurance, Homer's ancient Greek epic The Odyssey is translated by Robert Fagles with an introduction and notes by Bernard Knox in Penguin Classics. When Robert Fagles' translation of The Iliad was published in 1990, critics and scholars alike hailed it as a masterpiece. Here, one of the great modern translators presents us with The Odyssey, Homer's best-loved poem, recounting Odysseus' wanderings after the Trojan War. With wit and wile, the 'man of twists and turns' meets the challenges of the sea-god Poseidon, and monsters ranging from the many-headed Scylla to the cannibalistic Cyclops Polyphemus - only to return after twenty years to a home besieged by his wife Penelope's suitors. In the myths and legends retold in this immortal poem, Fagles has captured the energy of Homer's original in a bold, contemporary idiom. Seven greek cities claim the honour of being the birthplace of Homer (c. 8th-7th century BC), the poet to whom the composition of the Iliad and Odyssey are attributed. The Iliad is the oldest surviving work of Western literature, but the identity - or even the existence - of Homer himself is a complete mystery, with no reliable biographical information having survived. If you enjoyed The Odyssey, you might like Robert Fagles' translation of The Iliad, also available in Penguin Classics. 'Wonderfully readable ... Just the right blend of roughness and sophistication' Ted Hughes 'A memorable achievement ... Mr Fagles has been remarkably successful in finding a style that is of our time and yet timeless' Richard Jenkyns, The New York Times Book Review 'His translation of The Odyssey is his best work yet' Garry Wills, New Yorker
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review
Robotswithpersonality
Odyssey | Homer
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Mehso-so

There was definitely some skimming in this reread. I still got out of it what I wanted: to reacquaint myself with the plot beats and characters so I'm better prepared for any recent retellings that catch my eye; to remind myself that the further from modern sensibilities, the less likely I am to enjoy a literary classic. 🤷🏼‍♂️ 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? A pity I can't read it in its original Greek with its famed rhythm, as much as I can credit Emily Wilson, the translator of my edition, for presenting the narrative in natural language-feeling English while also fitting the verse into iambic pentameter, this does mean the sentence structure is truncated, it's a little stilted to read/read aloud. 1mo
Robotswithpersonality 3/3 It doesn't help that based on a lot of different reading about Ancient Greece/Greek myths in university, I remember summarized events chronologically, which is not the way they're recounted in the Odyssey, a little frustrating to wade through! Just my natural impatience coming to bite me. 💁🏼‍♂️ 1mo
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Robotswithpersonality
Odyssey | Homer
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Always a strong argument for vengeance: the kindergarten comeback. 😛

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Robotswithpersonality
Odyssey | Homer
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I...I really want to know what the original phrasing was in Homer's Greek. 😏

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Robotswithpersonality
Odyssey | Homer
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Having less recently survived a war, recently released from a goddess's captivity, escaped a storm, a shipwreck, relatively certain various gods still have it out for him, having crawled naked and half-drowned into the woods to make a dirt-and-leaves bed for a much needed exhausted sleep, Odysseus now wakes to screaming. Yep, let's give the man a moment to take stock. 🤦🏼‍♂️

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AnnCrystal
Odyssey | Homer
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Thank you @Eggs for creating this fun play-card 😉👍💝.

1- I've visited some interesting National Wonders/places/buildings in my California (& there's still a bunch on my “must visit“ & “must revisit again“ lists).

Outside of my state, one of the places that has intrigued me since learning about the history of the place, is Chaco in New Mexico. I have a crazy dream that the place should be rebuilt to its former glory. I know, wacky me.👇

AnnCrystal 2 - Growing up with all the stories from Brothers Grimm, I always wanted to visit the Black Forest. Yet, since my brother was named after the Greek Hero Odysseus, at the top of my list would be to visit the sights of Greece (including the long debated Kefalonia)... although, I guess if this trip ever became realized, I should first read this (tagged) book...I know, I'm terrible.

#WondrousWednesday

#litsycommunitylittenanncrystal
2mo
Eggs I hope you get to see all the places you want to🩷🩷🩷 2mo
AnnCrystal Thanks @Eggs ☺️👍💝. 2mo
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dabbe
The Odyssey | Homer
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#AboutABook
#ClassicYouRead ... #AndTaught
@Eggs
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

IMHO, one of the best hero's quest stories (epic poetry) ever written.

kspenmoll Just adored teaching this to 9th graders! Sadly we now teach The Alchemist instead. To me there is no comparison. 💔 3mo
CindyMyLifeIsLit @kspenmoll The trend toward replacing the classics with more modern fare is troubling, imho. There needs to be balance. Incorporate new works and choice independent reading, but don‘t discard the iconic literary works! That‘s like teaching art and only introducing the artists of the 20th century! What about the Rembrandts, the Michelangelo‘s, etc.? Their work inspired those later artists! 3mo
TheBookHippie Yes! Agreed!! 3mo
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dabbe @kspenmoll Loved THE ALCHEMIST, but you're right, there is no comparison. The 2nd oldest complete piece of Western Civilization literature; c'mon, people! You've got The Lotus Eaters, Circe, and Polyphemus! I feel your pain. 🩵💙🩵 3mo
dabbe @CindyMyLifeIsLit Agree 💯. The kids LOVED it, which is the best complement ever. 🤩🤗😊 3mo
dabbe @TheBookHippie 🤩🤗😊 3mo
Eggs I agrée ☝️. Incorporate some new but don‘t forsake the inimitable classics. 3mo
dabbe @Eggs #wellsaid 🩵💙🩵 3mo
AnnCrystal 😍🤩💝. 3mo
rwmg The Alchemist instead of The Odyssey 😱 Words fail me. There has to be something better than that if you want to incorporate more modern literature into your syllabus. 3mo
kspenmoll @rwmg Yes! Alchemist Not the book for 9th graders. (edited) 3mo
kspenmoll @CindyMyLifeIsLit Wonderful comparison with art. It is troubling, this trend. I heard a HS student on a TV show about banned books that he got nothing from Romeo & Juliet ( that is also gone from our 9th grade curriculum, no Shakespeare) but he did front a current read. R & J is accessible depending on how it is taught. Warring households? Star crossed lovers? How about the tragedy of Israel & Gaza ? 3mo
kspenmoll @dabbe The student‘ loved all the creatures & sea nymphs, etc. we also used Dorothy Parker‘s Penelope poem to add in her perspective. 😞 3mo
dabbe @AnnCrystal 🩵💙🩵 3mo
dabbe @rwmg Agree 💯. 3mo
dabbe @kspenmoll I did, too! Plus the poem “Ithaca“ by Constantine Cavafy. So sad. 😞 3mo
CindyMyLifeIsLit @kspenmoll Teachers in my Facebook English teachers‘ groups say the kids can‘t relate to books like Gatsby. 🤦‍♀️ 1. That‘s why YOU‘RE there, to show them how!! 2. Right! How could any teenager relate to a book about a guy who hates who he is and wants to be someone else? Who desperately wants to belong to the “cool kids” clique and can‘t get in? Who is trying to win that unattainable girl? How could any teen understand those feelings? 🙄 3mo
CindyMyLifeIsLit @kspenmoll It‘s scary that the TEACHERS think that way!! Kids don‘t need us to help them relate to books like We Were Liars or The Hate U Give. They need us to show them that beneath the different clothes and the archaic language, Romeo and Juliet are just like them. So is Gatsby, and George and Lennie, etc. Okay, I‘m climbing off my soapbox now! 😁 3mo
dabbe @CindyMyLifeIsLit @kspenmoll Exactly! I mean, what kid wouldn't want to stick a hot poker through someone's eye? I'd love to be Odysseus! 🤩🤩🤩 3mo
CindyMyLifeIsLit @dabbe 😂😂 Yes, kids LOVE that stuff! 😂 3mo
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dabbe
The Odyssey | Homer
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BookmarkTavern A classic! Thanks for sharing! 5mo
dabbe @BookmarkTavern 💚💙💚 5mo
kspenmoll Perfect pick! 5mo
dabbe @kspenmoll OdysSEY for SEA. 🤩😂🤗 5mo
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AroundTheBookWorld
The Odyssey | Homer
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dabbe The 1st book in western civilization. 💚💙💚 5mo
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Jen2
The Odyssey | Homer
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Pickpick

Fabulous! I can‘t wait to read more translations by her!

Graywacke Oh? I‘m so curious about this translation 6mo
Jen2 It‘s so good and the only one by a woman. 6mo
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mariaku21
The Odyssey | Homer
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Pickpick

Book no.11 of the year!
I've read a different version of Homer's work but I was intrigued by this one and I have to say that I do love Wilson's translation of this epic poem.
Her use of modern language and choice of iambic pentameter for her translation felt new and contemporary and it was easier to read and visualize for me. This alone was a challenge as she managed to keep the same number of verses from the original Greek! Kudos Wilson 🎉🎉

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Susanita
Odyssey | Homer
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Either Genesis or Homer‘s Odyssey (the real one)
#sundayfunday

Leniverse Same. Unless the Iliad was earlier. Wait... where does Gilgamesh fall on the timeline? 😂 9mo
Susanita @Leniverse I haven‘t read Gilgamesh 🤷🏻‍♀️ 9mo
Leniverse It was compulsory reading in uni. Not that I remember much of it. Just checked and it's considered the oldest. Sometime between 2100-1400 BCE 9mo
BookmarkTavern I still need to read the Odyssey! Thanks for posting! 8mo
Susanita @BookmarkTavern I had to read it for English class. Senior year I think? 8mo
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BC_Dittemore
The Odyssey | Homer
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Pickpick

First time reading The Odyssey (I only bought this set like 15 years ago 🙄). I guess I always felt intimidated by it; oddly a 500 page poem sounds like more work than a 500 page novel. But Fagles‘ translation is quite accessible, tending toward prose over verse, which I‘m sure made a daunting task not so daunting.

Still, what can one say that hasn‘t already been said? It‘s The Odyssey and it‘s worth the effort.

dabbe Fagles also translated THE ILIAD, and I was able to finally be able to read all of it and understand it! 🤩🤩🤩 14mo
BC_Dittemore @dabbe I have that one too. I will probably start it next month after I get through my spooky season reads🎃. I know I technically read them out of order but… I had my reasons. 14mo
dabbe @BC_Dittemore I think they both stand separately regardless of which one was written first. I have to admit, I prefer Odysseus over Achilles. 🤩 14mo
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Roary47
The Odyssey | Homer
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Well, I didn‘t read except for audio and a chapter during my oldest‘s cheer practice. So I‘m doing a lot of catch up today. Officially, caught up on Serial reads. Hopefully, I can get more of my reading goals caught up by this evening. #JubilantJuly @Andrew65

Andrew65 These are great ways to read some of the classics. 1y
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kelli7990
The Odyssey | Homer
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Pickpick

Here‘s my review for another book I just finished reading.

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VioletMoonBooks
The Odyssey | Homer
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TuesdayReviews
The Odyssey | Homer
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Classic Christmas reading

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stevenngo18
Mehso-so

This book was midtier

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vjay
The Odyssey | Homer
Mehso-so

Good book! Great tell of events in every chapter.

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CohenReads
The Odyssey | Homer
Mehso-so

Translated by Emily Wilson

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Roary47
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So my July #roll100 books are ready to go… sort of. I found out that the two on the left are the third books in their series so I‘ve actually got their first books ready to go. 😅 Plus I finally get to read The Odyssey! Sweet! @PuddleJumper

PuddleJumper 👍👍 2y
dylanisreading Out of curiosity, what is #roll100? 2y
Roary47 @dylanisreading at the beginning of the year we write down 100 books we would like to get to within that year. Our host @PuddleJumper then rolls numbers for us each month. The number that is selected corresponds to one of your 100 that you listed in numerical order. 2y
dylanisreading @Roary47 Sounds fun! Thank you for explaining. 2y
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Madelpadel
The Odyssey | Homer
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"For nothing could be better than when two love in one house, their minds in harmony, husband and wife. Their enamora are jealous, their friends delighted, and they have great honor."

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VioletMoonBooks
The Odyssey | Homer
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VioletMoonBooks
The Odyssey | Homer
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VioletMoonBooks
The Odyssey | Homer
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alanholland
The Odyssey | Homer

This is an allusion to the Trojan War, which the Greeks waged against the Trojans following Paris of Troy's abduction of Helen. This is an allusion to Helios, the Greek god of the sun.

TheMrsShaw Don't forget to include the quote you're talking about. Because an entire book can't be an allusion. The title can be, or a quote, but not the entire work.

3y
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VioletMoonBooks
The Odyssey | Homer
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VioletMoonBooks
The Odyssey | Homer
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ravenlee
Odyssey | Homer
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Pickpick

I‘m a longtime fan, so it‘s no surprise I enjoyed this. Wilson does a great job maintaining the feel of the poetry using accessible language. I recommend this edition - and the 91 pages of introductory material is pretty awesome, too.
#roll100 #24 @PuddleJumper

PuddleJumper Sounds really interesting! 3y
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VioletMoonBooks
The Odyssey | Homer
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ravenlee
Odyssey | Homer
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Whew, made it! 91 pages of introduction and translator‘s notes! What a cool closing paragraph, though. And it gets even better - the next section has four really cool maps! Yes, four!

But for now I‘m setting it aside and working on #1619ProjectRead - which I believe is my last weekly read to catch up on. Then back to this one (or, equally likely, on to something shiny).

rwmg Who is the translator?
3y
ravenlee @rwmg this edition is translated by Emily Wilson. 3y
rwmg Ah, thank you 3y
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ravenlee
Odyssey | Homer
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I‘ve (over)committed to some buddy reads/challenges, but I didn‘t set a numeric goal. I just want to enjoy my reading.

Persistence

I am, though I‘m still wading through the introduction and translator‘s notes. It‘s taking me back to undergrad with my favorite professor of all time, and my favorite class of his.

#ThoughtfulThursday @MoonWitch94 thanks for the tag @RaeLovesToRead

Tagging

RaeLovesToRead I've also totally overcommitted 😁 I just get excited at all the new challenges! 3y
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ravenlee
Odyssey | Homer
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Who started this edition without realizing the introduction and translator‘s notes are 100 pages long? That would be me. Don‘t get me wrong; I‘m finding it all fascinating so far (I am a big Odyssey nerd), it‘s just more than I expected. I should have, though, as the whole thing is massive.
#Roll100 #24

RaeLovesToRead Nice edition! 3y
ravenlee @RaeLovesToRead thanks! I have a collection of Odyssey translations - I think six so far, including a graphic novel version. I‘ve only read two so far, though. 3y
rabbitprincess I have that edition too! 3y
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VioletMoonBooks
The Odyssey | Homer
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Thus spoke Athene, and Odysseus obeyed her gladly. Then Athene, in the form and with the voice of Mentor, presently made a covenant of peace between the two parties.
#TheOdyssey #Homer #lastline #closingline #book #books #bookhoarder #bookhoarders #bookhaul #bookhauler #bookholic #bookholics #bookheaven #bookjunkie #bookjunkies #bookjunky #bookjacket #bookjackets #bookjacketdesign #bookjacketdesigner #Classics #Fiction #Poetry #Mythology 💟💟💟💟

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thepostman96
The Odyssey | Homer
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Pickpick

I absolutely loved this translation of The Odyssey. Emily Wilson did such a good job modernizing the language while still retaining some lyricism by writing the verses in iambic pentameter. I also appreciate that she broke free from the language commonly used in past translations that was influenced by sexism and colonialism. The introduction and note at the beginning were fascinating. Just everything was overall enjoyable and easy to read. 4⭐️

readingjedi This sounds like a translation I need to read. 3y
thepostman96 @readingjedi This will now be the only translation I will recommend. I really appreciated that Wilson made the language accessible instead of stuffy and pretentious so that anyone can enjoy it. 3y
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literateBee

I've read it twice so far. I only wish I'd read it first when I was much younger.

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pr.alm
The Odyssey | Homer
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Pickpick

“Be strong, saith my heart; I am a soldier;
I have seen worse sights than this.”

Gissy That phrase goes with you. 👌As I see you are in the armed forces🤗 3y
pr.alm @Gissy thank you!! And I see you enjoy running.. that‘s awesome! I ran a half marathon yesterday 😅 3y
Gissy @pr.alm Congratulations in that half marathon! I always ask myself what I‘m doing when I am in that start line,, but then everything is forgotten at the finishing line😊The worst part is the training. We are in that process right now. Today we did farleks, tomorrow 7 miles, Thursday-hills (14 times running that hill) and Saturday 12 miles😅But I‘m not a fast runner, I‘m just a finisher because...Run is cheaper than therapy😃 3y
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sherri
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1. Athena
2. Currently reading The Odyssey for the first time! Most recent before that was an ARC of Circe by Madeline Miller.

@TheSpineView @Bette #TwoForTuesday but on a Wednesday.

TheSpineView Loved Circe! Thanks for playing! 4y
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sherri
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Never read this in school. Now, many years later, I have been getting hints from the universe to give it a try. When I saw this beautiful edition on a poetry table right next to the door upon walking into my local bookshop, I took it as a final sign and brought it home with me. Loving it so far from just the introduction and very beginning passages.

SamAnne I‘ve read before but I really want to read this translation. This year for sure! 4y
sherri @SamAnne So far, this translation is easy to understand. It also has maps in the front and summaries, notes, and glossary of names and places in the back. Very helpful! 4y
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nightvalelibrarian
The Odyssey | Homer
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a new friend for my antiques collection 🥰

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WanderingBookaneer
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Buchbeeg 😆 4y
sarahbarnes 😂😂😂 4y
Caroline2 😆 4y
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Addison_Reads
The Odyssey | Homer
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Pickpick

#AmongTheGods @AkashaVampie @BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

I'm so glad I revisited these books. I think between this and The Iliad, this one is my favorite. 💚 I've always been a huge fan of anything dealing with Greek Mythology and rereading this just made all the classic stories so vivid in my mind.

AkashaVampie yay!!! glad u are liking it! 4y
Becker I love this pair as well. ❤️ 4y
SamAnne I‘m planning a reread of Iliad and Odyssey this year. ReAlly looking forward to Caroline Alexander‘s translation of the Iliad. 4y
44 likes4 comments