The Authoress of the Odyssey (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Where and when she wrote, who she was, the use she made of the Iliad, and how the poem grew under her handsBy Samuel Butler
Length12h 8m
About this audiobook
In The Authoress of the Odyssey, Samuel Butler advances one of the most provocative theses in Homeric criticism: that the Odyssey was composed not by "Homer" but by a young, educated woman of western Sicily, whose imaginative self-portrait appears in Nausicaa. Blending close reading, travel observation, philology, and speculative reconstruction, Butler reads the epic's domestic intelligence, geographical detail, and narrative sympathies against the masculine martial world of the Iliad. Butler, best known for Erewhon and The Way of All Flesh, was a Victorian iconoclast with deep interests in classical literature, evolution, art, and anti-orthodox argument. His independence from academic classicism allowed him to notice features that conventional scholarship often dismissed. Having travelled in Sicily and studied the poem's topography, he transformed personal observation into a bold literary hypothesis about authorship, gender, and the making of epic tradition. This book is recommended for readers interested in Homer, classical reception, feminist literary history, or the history of controversial scholarship. Even where Butler's conclusions remain disputed, his wit, ingenuity, and attentiveness to narrative texture make the work a stimulating encounter with the Odyssey and with Victorian criticism at its most daring.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
GenreLiterary Classics
Length12 hrs 8 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateNov 25, 2023
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1The Authoress of the Odyssey (Annotated)
2Introduction
3Synopsis
4Historical Context
5PREFACE.
Show all chaptersShow less
6PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION (pt. 1)
7PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION (pt. 2)
8PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION (pt. 3)
9PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION (pt. 4)
10PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION (pt. 5)
11Analysis
12Reflection
13Memorable Quotes
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