Odyssey Greek Myths Retold

Stephen Fry’s Odyssey is a radiant triumph — a book that showcases Fry at the absolute height of his powers. His unmistakable voice — witty, charming, and deeply humane — infuses every page with a sense of wonder that feels both ancient and freshly alive. Fry’s understanding of Greek and Roman literature runs far deeper than simple retelling; he grasps the emotional architecture of the myths, the psychology of the heroes, and the cultural heartbeat that shaped them. What makes this book so special is the way Fry marries scholarship with storytelling. He honours the original tales while giving them a modern clarity and warmth that make them feel intimate, almost conversational. His humour sparkles, his insights land with quiet brilliance, and his affection for the characters — flawed, noble, monstrous, magnificent — shines through unmistakably. Reading Odyssey is an indulgence in the best sense: soothing, immersive, and nourishing to anyone whose soul feels at home in the world of ancient myth. It’s a book that invites you to linger, to dream, and to rediscover the timeless magic of the Greek imagination. A beautiful, generous work — and an essential read for lovers of mythology and lovers of Fry alike. less

I really enjoyed the book, though there are two issues I had with it: the first one is the text size. In the "bigger" paperback copy the text is basically huge. It feels a bit like a children's book. It definitely could use less pages if it was just a bit smaller. And the second one is that the "Telegony" is being treated too much as if it is canon. There is a strong disagreement on whether or not it can even be considered a continuation of the Odyssey and it feels like that is not being talked about at all. It's treated too much as if it is confirmed to continue the story. We don't have much text (two lines of a poem and a summary that was combined much later) of it and it wasn't written by homer either. I would have preferred if it mentioned that it's somewhat controversial if it is actually a continuation or not. Scholars do not agree on whether or not it is and I feel like that's important to tell the reader. I personally do not see it as canon since it contradicts the source material, the Odyssey, a lot. The themes also do not truly match and many things just don't fit in with the characters. For me a note that said that it is considered a continuation by some but not all would have been very nice and actually needed.