Join us upstairs at The Shakespeare Hotel, 200 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills, on Thursday 1 October 2026, at 7.00pm (sharp) as we discuss *The Odyssey*, one of the foundational works of Western literature.
We will have special guests and will be warmly welcoming two members of the Greek diplomatic mission to Australia: Mr. Georgios Skemperis, the Consul General, as well as Mrs. Paraskevi Tsintzou, First Secretary for Public Diplomacy.
Originating in an oral tradition about 3,000 years ago, *The Odyssey* tells the story of the 10-year journey of King Odysseus after the Trojan War. King Odysseus is a soldier, at a time when Kings had to prove their authority by their bravery and skill in fighting the enemy.
Along the way back to his homeland, he outwits the Cyclops - the one-eyed giants who were so uncivilised that they ate their meals alone. He resists the goddess Circe: despite her skill at sexual pleasure (hey, she is a goddess), Odysseus enjoys her sexual delights, but really just wants to re-unite with his (ageing, but real) wife back in Ithaca. And he passes by the Sirens, whose irresistible song lures sailors to their deaths. He wants to listen to their songs, but gets his men to tie him to a mast, and to get his own sailors to fill their ears with wax, so that only he can hear them sing. That way, the sailors will not hear his orders that they should sail ever closer to their seductive voices (and to certain death). Meanwhile, his wife Penelope cleverly delays the suitors trying to seize his kingdom in his absence.
There are multiple translations. For newcomers, I (Dale) recommend the 2017 translation by Emily Wilson, available in print, audiobook (about 13 hours), and as a free PDF from me on request ([dalemills@cantab.net](mailto:dalemills@cantab.net)). There are lots of criticisms of the recent Nolan film and the Wilson translation, but one has to start somewhere.
If you're short on time, I recommend reading:
• Books 1–5 (Telemachus and Calypso)
• Book 9 (Cyclops)
• Book 12 (The Underworld and the Sirens)
• Books 13–16 (Return to Ithaca)
• Books 21–23 (The Bow Contest and Reunion)
Also, perhaps, see several podcasts on this at [https://www.secretlifeofbooks.org/podcast-1/episode/975654db/the-odyssey-1-mary-beard-on-homers-masterpiece](https://www.secretlifeofbooks.org/podcast-1/episode/975654db/the-odyssey-1-mary-beard-on-homers-masterpiece)
Fortunately, the most famous painting of Odysseus and the Sirens is by John William Waterhouse, at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne.
There will be about 30 of us speaking in a big group for about 30 mins. After that, people break up into groups of 4 or 5 to speak more about the book or anything else.
We are a friendly lot, and newcomers are welcome.
Contact Dale on dalemills@cantab.net for more info.
