Each year, the Key West Literary Seminar explores a particular literary theme. For our 37th event, January 10-13, 2019, we’ll assemble some of today’s most dazzling writers for a journey through literary archetypes—from Shakespeare and Homer to African folktales and early 20th-century novels and comic-book heroes—as we seek to understand the nature of literary influence.

http://www.classics.upenn.edu/events/public-reading-emilys-wilsons-odyssey

Public Reading of Emily's Wilson's "Odyssey"

DECEMBER 06 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Mayser Gymnasium

Emily Wilson 

Common Hour enables the entire Franklin & Marshall College community to gather for culturally and academically enriching events at midday each Thursday during the academic year. This opportunity to engage in a campus-wide dialogue originates with Common Hour and then extends beyond the confines of 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. into classrooms, house commons, dining halls and beyond.  

Classicist Emily Wilson will be joining us to discuss and sign her new translation of The Odyssey. Written in iambic pentameter verse, Wilson's translation recaptures Homer’s “nimble gallop” and brings an ancient epic to new life.

With unforgettably vivid characters, mesmerizing language and page-turning suspense, Madeline Miller’s Circe is an intoxicating epic of family rivalry, palace intrigue, love and loss, as well as a celebration of indomitable female strength in a man’s world. In Emily Wilson’s fresh, authoritative version of the first English translation of The Odyssey by a woman, this stirring tale of shipwrecks, monsters, and magic comes alive in an entirely new way.

Wednesday, November 14, 2018 - 6:30 PM | Members' Room | open to the public | $15 per person | registration required

The first great adventure story in the Western canon, The Odyssey is a poem about violence and the aftermath of war; about wealth, poverty, and power; about marriage and family; about travelers, hospitality, and the yearning for home.

In this fresh, authoritative version—the work’s first English translation by a woman—this stirring tale of shipwrecks, monsters, and magic comes alive in an entirely new way. Written in iambic pentameter verse and a vivid, contemporary idiom, this engrossing translation matches the number of lines in the Greek original, thus striding at Homer’s sprightly pace and singing with a voice that echoes Homer’s music.

Its characters are unforgettable, from the cunning goddess Athena, whose interventions guide and protect the hero, to the awkward teenage son, Telemachus, who struggles to achieve adulthood and find his father; from the cautious, clever, and miserable Penelope, who somehow keeps clamoring suitors at bay during her husband’s long absence, to the “complicated” hero himself, a man of many disguises, many tricks, and many moods, who emerges in this translation as a more fully rounded human being than ever before. This is an Odyssey that will be treasured by a new generation of scholars, students, and general readers alike.

Emily Wilson grew up in Oxford, UK, and studied Classics at Balliol College, and English Literature at Corpus Christi College. Her PhD. is from Yale in Classics and Comparative Literature. She is currently a Professor of Classical Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. She has written books on tragedy and “overliving,” the long afterlife of the death of Socrates, and a life of Seneca. She has also done several verse translations of classical verse drama and epic, including Seneca’s tragedies, four plays of Euripides, and Homer’s Odyssey.

To register, use the form below. With registration questions, call the Events Office at 212.288.6900 x230.

Price 

$15.00

In this seminar we will discuss the representation of female characters in the Odyssey, tracing contrasts and similarities between elite mortal women, female slaves and goddesses (both Olympian and natural/ monstrous).

Price: from $100.00

Literary Translation at Columbia: Emily Wilson

Organized by Susan Bernofsky, Writing

Emily Wilson is professor of Classical Studies and chair of the Program in Comparative Literature and Literary Theory at the University of Pennsylvania. She is the author of Mocked to Death: Tragic Overliving from Sophocles to Milton (2004), The Death of Socrates: Hero, Villain, Chatterbox, Saint (2007), and The Greatest Empire: A Life of Seneca (2014), as well as the translator of Six Tragedies of Seneca (2010) and four plays by Euripides (The Greek Plays, 2016).

This event is free and open to the public. No RSVP is required; it is first come, first served. Also, please note that doors will open to Columbia Writing students at 6:30pm, and will then open to the general public at 6:45pm, so we do encourage guests to arrive early in order to ensure seating. writing@columbia.edu

DATE:Wed November 7, 2018TIME:7:00 PM 
LOCATION:501 Dodge Hall
2960 Broadway
New York, NY 10027

First published in English around 1615, Homer’s The Odyssey has been foundational reading for generations. Four hundred and two years later, the first translation into English by a woman of this canonical text has made its way onto bookshelves. Emily Wilson, professor of classical studies at the University of Pennsylvania, will read from her translation and discuss her approach to the project.

This program is presented in partnership with the Scripps College Department of Classics.

In her stunning new translation of The Odyssey—the first-ever English translation by a woman—renowned classics scholar Emily Wilson brings a fresh perspective to Homer’s masterpiece while still conveying the humanity and heroic power of the original Greek. Wilson is a professor of classical studies at the University of Pennsylvania, the author of Mocked to Death: Tragic Overliving from Sophocles to Milton, and the translator of plays by Seneca and Euripides.

Readings are followed by discussion with author and UCLA professor Mona Simpson, who organizes this series. Supported in part by the UCLA Department of English and the Friends of English.

Lectures will be held in the Francis Scott Key Auditorium at 8 p.m. They are free and open to the public. For more information on the lecture series, please call 410-626-2511.

Translating The Odyssey: How and Why

Professor Wilson will discuss her process in creating a new verse translation of Homer’s The Odyssey and explain how her translation differs from others currently available in

English.

An Evening with Emily Wilson, translator of Homer’s Odyssey

The first great adventure story in the Western canon, The Odyssey is a poem about violence and the aftermath of war; about wealth, poverty, and power; about marriage and family; about travelers, hospitality, and the yearning for home.

Emily Wilson’s new translation — the first by a woman — captivates readers from the opening sentence: “Tell me about a complicated man.” Professor Wilson captures the beauty and enchantment of this ancient poem as well as the suspense and drama of its narrative. Its characters are unforgettable, from the cunning goddess Athena to the awkward teenage son, Telemachus; from the cautious, clever, and miserable Penelope, to the complicated hero himself.

Beginning this fall, students in four Maryland high schools will create new theater work, artwork, and history projects using this new, accessible translation of the Odyssey. To celebrate this academic milestone, the Pratt will host a conversation open to the public with translator Emily Wilson, Professor of Classical Studies and graduate chair of the Program in Comparative Literature and Literary Theory at the University of Pennsylvania. Professor Wilson will be joined by:

Lillian Doherty, Professor & Chair, Dept. of Classics, University of Maryland.

Shirley Basfield Dunlap, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Fine & Performing Arts at Morgan State University.

Thomas Falkner, Professor of Classics at McDaniel College.

Emily Hayman, Ph.D., Instructor in Literature, Bard High School Early College.

A reception with light refreshments will follow the program.

The Ivy Bookshop will have copies of the book for sale at a book signing following the program.

This program is made possible with generous support from Maryland Humanities, the Society for Classical Studies, the Onassis Foundation USA, and the Mitzvah Fund for Good Deeds.

An all-day, collaborative reading of Homer's Odyssey in Prof. Emily Wilson's new translation. At lunch, Prof. Wilson will be joining us for a conversation about the epic and her translation.

"Translating the Odyssey AGAIN: How and Why" by Emily Wilson

Opening Keynote Speaker for the International Association of Professional Translators and Interpreters 5th International Conference (Valencia, Spain).

Description:Emily Wilson is the first woman to translate the "Odyssey". Following the talk, Emily's books will be on sale and she will host a book signing 5:30p-6:15p.

The Odyssey: Find The Beginning with Emily Wilson

22 Jul 

At the Helicon

The Helicon is our intimate 190-seater performance space, designed with a nod to the Greek theatre which Seamus Heaney so loved, and where you can enjoy theatre, music, song, poetry, readings and talks inspired by his life and literature on the traverse stage.
 
Helicon, a mountain in Greece, is a sacred site in Greek mythology, said to have been favoured by the nine Muses – or Goddesses - who shared their divine gifts with mortals. It is the location of the Hippocrene spring which, in legend, is a source of poetic inspiration.

Emily Wilson has written a lean, fleet-footed translation of The Odyssey that recaptures Homer’s ‘nimble gallop’ and brings an ancient epic to new life.

The first great adventure story in the Western canon, The Odyssey is a poem about violence and the aftermath of war; about wealth, poverty and power; about marriage, family and identity; and about travellers, hospitality and the changing meanings of home in a strange world.

This vivid new poetic translation—the first ever by a woman—matches the number of lines in the Greek original, thus striding at Homer’s sprightly pace. Eschewing showy poeticisms and high-flown rhetoric, Emily Wilson employs elemental, resonant language and a five-beat line to produce a translation with an enchanting ‘rhythm and rumble’ that avoids proclaiming its own grandeur or importance.

An engrossing tale told in a compelling new voice that allows contemporary readers to luxuriate in Homer’s magical descriptions and similes and to thrill at the tension and excitement of its hero’s fantastical adventures, Wilson’s Odyssey recaptures what is ‘epic’ about this wellspring of world literature.

This event is presented in conjunction with Seamus Heaney HomePlace

Cost
€16

See Emily Wilson in person at our inaugural #deepwaterlitfest in #Narrowsburg discussing her translation Friday June 15 (Wilson will also kick of a marathon reading of The Odyssey on Sat 16th June at the Union at 10.30am).

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/deep-water-literary-festival-tickets-46251660963

THE FESTIVAL

Join us for a magical three-day festival for people who love books, and the writers that inspire them, with a series of readings, performances, and a marathon, multi-venue reading of The Odyssey.

From a panel on pioneering women, to a poetry and pizza slam; from live musical performances to literary karaoke, explore the beautiful river town of Narrowsburg, NY by foot while celebrating the power of words and the joy of reading.

SPACE IS LIMITED. Reserve your tickets ahead of time to secure your spot. Tickets will be available at the door if space allows

Special Performance by Penny Arcade

Tickets Available Here! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/penny-arcade-in-longing-lasts-longer-tickets-46476815406

SCHEDULE

Friday June 15th

Opening Night Cocktail Party & Recitals
6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Main Street, Main St, Narrowsburg, NY 12764, USA

Join local merchants as they open their doors for a Odyssey-themed cocktail party and readings.

Bella Bathurst: A Meditation on Sound
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Gloria Krause Recital Hall, DVAA, 37 Main Street, Narrowsburg 12764

In 1997, Bella Bathurst began to go deaf. Within a few months, she had lost half her hearing, and the rest was slipping away. For the next twelve years, deafness shaped her life, until, in 2009, everything changed again. Sound draws on this extraordinary experience, exploring what it is like to lose your hearing and – as Bella eventually did – to get it back, and what that teaches you about listening and silence, music and noise.

Emily Wilson: On Translating Homer's The Odyssey
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Gloria Krause Recital Hall, DVAA, 37 Main St. Narrowsburg, NY 12764

Emily Wilson is the first woman to translate the Greek epic into English. She talk about her process, and her radical break with the past.

Jake Shears: Boys Keep Swinging
8:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Gloria Krause Recital Hall, DVAA, 37 Main St. Narrowsburg, NY 12764

Jake Shears of Scissors Sisters is up to read from his new memoir “Boys Keep Swinging”

The 2018 Anthea Bell Lecture: Translating HomerSunday 27 May 2018, 4pm Venue: Oxfam Moot

The first great adventure story in the Western canon, The Odyssey, is a poem about violence and the aftermath of war; about wealth, poverty and power; about marriage, family and identity; and about travelers, hospitality and the changing meanings of home in a strange world. The vivid new translation, the first by a woman, matches the number of lines in the Greek original, striding at Homer's sprightly pace. Wilson employs elemental, resonant language and a five-beat line to produce a translation with an enchanting ‘rhythm and rumble’. She recaptures what is epic about this wellspring of world literature. This inaugural translation lecture is given in the name of the pre-eminent translator, whose peerless work rendering French, Danish and German literature into English ranges from Asterix to Austerlitz.  Chaired by Charlotte Higgins.

To the Western world’s first great adventure story, The Odyssey, comes its first female translator, classicist Emily Wilson, whose sprightly and fresh version is already garnering huge praise. Join her and hear extended readings from Homer’s epic tale of war, violence and the long journey home – themes that remain as pressing now as they ever were.

Venue: Assembly Rooms

Price: £10 (£9)

FoI at Waterstones/

Thu 24 May 2018
19:00-20:00

Waterstones
Price: £8/ £6

The first great adventure story in the Western canon, The Odyssey is a poem about violence and the aftermath of war; about wealth, poverty and power; about marriage and family; about travellers, hospitality and the yearning for home. Classicist Emily Wilson discusses her new translation of The Odyssey – the first English translation by a woman. She talks about her work on the text and reveals how the ancient story is relevant today.

She is in conversation with Sarah LeFanu.

Wednesday, May 16th, 6PM, The Penn Book Center, Philadelphia, PA. A reading by Madeline Miller, author of Circe and The Song of Achilles., and conversation with Emily Wilson.  

Bizarre, brutal and beautiful, Homer’s The Odyssey is a story of adventure and revenge. It’s one of our oldest stories and an enduring source of obsession for readers, scholars and storytellers.

In Australia, if you studied The Odyssey at school or at university, you probably read it in English and in prose. How much of the rhythm, pace and spirit of Homer’s epic Greek poem has been lost through dozens of English translations over hundreds of years? And what can a new, radical intervention from a different kind of translator bring to our understanding of the story?

Classicist Emily Wilson is the author of an immersive translation that breathes new life into The Odyssey. Written in startling, spirited verse, Wilson’s Odyssey soars and sings. At the centre of all the action is, of course, the sacker of cities and slayer of suitors, Odysseus himself. In Wilson’s telling, our hero is introduced as ‘a complicated man’; a figure of many moods and layers.

In May, this remarkable scholar – and the first woman to translate The Odyssey in English – will discuss translation, truth and complex heroes with Alison Croggon.