The epic tale of Odysseus and his ten-year journey home after the Trojan War forms one of the earliest and greatest works of Western literature. Confronted by natural and supernatural threats ship-wrecks, battles, monsters and the implacable enmity of the sea-god Poseidon Odysseus must test his bravery and native cunning to reach his homeland and overcome the obstacles that, even there, await him.

E. V. Rieus translation of The Odyssey was the very first Penguin Classic to be published, and has itself achieved classic status. For this edition, Rieus text has been sensitively revised and a new introduction added to complement his original introduction.