The Odyssey in Plain English
Samuel Butler's translation of Homer's epic poem, in language you can easily read
Samuel Butler's 1900 translation with the old-fashioned words updated and nothing taken out: the same events, the same descriptions, the same telling. Not a summary and not an abridgement, but the whole poem in plain English.
Switching keeps your place: the same chapter opens in the other edition. Side by side opens the same chapter with the two texts paragraph beside paragraph.
Listen, or read along
Every chapter has the recording and the same chapter as text. Open both if you like: the text is the words you are hearing. Each has a short spoken introduction just above it, to play first or to pass by.
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Introduction to Book One 3 min
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1 Book One 22 min
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Introduction to Book Two 3 min
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2 Book Two 22 min
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Introduction to Book Three 3 min
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3 Book Three 26 min
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Introduction to Book Four, Part One 3 min
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4 Book Four, Part One 22 min
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Introduction to Book Four, Part Two 3 min
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5 Book Four, Part Two 22 min
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Introduction to Book Five 3 min
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6 Book Five 25 min
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Introduction to Book Six 3 min
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7 Book Six 18 min
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Introduction to Book Seven 3 min
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8 Book Seven 18 min
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Introduction to Book Eight 3 min
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9 Book Eight 31 min
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Introduction to Book Nine 3 min
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10 Book Nine 30 min
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Introduction to Book Ten 3 min
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11 Book Ten 30 min
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Introduction to Book Eleven 3 min
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12 Book Eleven 34 min
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Introduction to Book Twelve 3 min
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13 Book Twelve 25 min
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Introduction to Book Thirteen 3 min
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14 Book Thirteen 24 min
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Introduction to Book Fourteen 3 min
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15 Book Fourteen 30 min
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Introduction to Book Fifteen 3 min
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16 Book Fifteen 30 min
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Introduction to Book Sixteen 2 min
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17 Book Sixteen 25 min
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Introduction to Book Seventeen 2 min
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18 Book Seventeen 33 min
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Introduction to Book Eighteen 2 min
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19 Book Eighteen 23 min
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Introduction to Book Nineteen 2 min
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20 Book Nineteen 34 min
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Introduction to Book Twenty 3 min
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21 Book Twenty 22 min
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Introduction to Book Twenty-One 3 min
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22 Book Twenty-One 24 min
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Introduction to Book Twenty-Two 3 min
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23 Book Twenty-Two 26 min
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Introduction to Book Twenty-Three 3 min
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24 Book Twenty-Three 20 min
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Introduction to Book Twenty-Four 3 min
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25 Book Twenty-Four 30 min
Where this comes from
Based on the translation by Samuel Butler, 1900.
Three layers. Homer is out of copyright by age. Butler's 1900 translation is clear worldwide because he died in 1902. The version is new work made in 2026 and is licensed CC BY 4.0 by its author rather than being public domain by age.
To reuse this text, credit it as: The Odyssey in Plain English by Harry Brown. Open Ear Books, openearbooks.com. Licensed under CC BY 4.0. See License for what else the licence asks.
Cover image: John William Waterhouse, Ulysses and the Sirens, 1891, National Gallery of Victoria.
Narration: text-to-speech.
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If you want the poetry, read Emily Wilson.
Butler gave up the verse to get the story across, and this recording inherits that trade. Emily Wilson's 2017 translation does the opposite and does it superbly: line for line with the Greek, in iambic pentameter, fast and clear and meant to be spoken aloud.
Emily Wilson’s translation on Amazon (paid link)
The Odyssey, translated by Emily Wilson. W. W. Norton, 2017. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.