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Nolan’s film could make The Odyssey the most sought-after book in the US
Christopher Nolan's new film adaptation of The Odyssey has triggered a surge in demand for Homer's ancient Greek epic, turning the nearly 2,700-year-old poem into one of the most sought-after books in the United States. Bookshops and libraries report a rush of buyers, many of them younger, Gen Z readers who became curious about the source material after watching the blockbuster, illustrating how cinema can revive interest in classic literature.
At Brooklyn's Books Are Magic, sales of Emily Wilson's acclaimed translation alone jumped from single digits to 80 copies in a month. Nationally, Circana BookScan data shows year-to-date US print sales of The Odyssey up 76%, with Wilson's WW Norton edition leading ahead of Penguin's Robert Fagles translation and Gareth Hinds' graphic novel version; publisher WW Norton says Wilson's translation has now sold more than a million copies domestically since 2017. The renewed appetite extends to children's adaptations and related titles such as Madeline Miller's Circe, reflecting a broader wave of interest in Greek mythology sparked by the film.
In short
- Nolan's Odyssey film has boosted US sales of Homer's ancient epic.
- Year-to-date print sales of The Odyssey are up 76%.
- Emily Wilson's translation has topped one million copies sold.
Explained simply
The Odyssey is an ancient Greek poem traditionally attributed to Homer, telling of Odysseus’s long journey home after the Trojan War. Along the way, he encounters gods, monsters and other dangers, while his wife Penelope and son Telemachus wait for him in Ithaca.
The poem has been retold and translated many times, so readers can choose between different English versions and adaptations, including graphic novels. Its characters and myths have also inspired modern books, such as Madeline Miller’s Circe. Classic stories like this remain influential, and film adaptations can introduce them to new audiences.
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