Fri, Aug 28
|Backstory English Bookshop
Ancient Literature: The Odyssey
Pop-Up Book Club
Time & Location
Aug 28, 2026, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Backstory English Bookshop, Carrer de Mallorca, 330, Eixample, 08037 Barcelona, Spain
About the event
Join us for a discussion of one of the foundational texts of European literature: The Odyssey, the epic that narrates the adventures of Odysseus, king of Ithaca. A journey through a mythical geographic space, but also a journey of the mind, The Odyssey went on to establish the ancient literary genre of νόστος, or 'Homecoming.' No specific translation of the text is required, but make sure that you are reading a translation rather than a retelling.
Recommended translations are those by: Emily Wilson, Robert Fitzgerald, Richmond Lattimore and Samuel Butler. Keep in mind that Stephen Fry's Odyssey is rather a retelling than a translation.
Something to think about while you read: Gods often inhabit the world of mortals, disguising themselves as human beings. What actions do they accomplish? Are they divine actions or more 'human'? What could be the significance of this?
The session will be…