Odyssey

WHEN GODS TURN VENGEFUL, ONLY THE BRAVE CAN DEFY FATE AND FIND THEIR WAY HOME
Discover Stephen Fry's epic re-telling of the Odyssey for the 21st century
'Relatable and full of humour ' GUARDIAN
'Fry breathes contemporary relevance into these ancient tales' OBSERVER

After the fall of Troy, wily Odysseus, King of Ithaca, sails for home and his steadfast queen Penelope.
However, the angry gods curse him to wander the seas for ten long years. Tormented by giants and monsters, tempted by witches and goddesses, Odysseus battles to draw ever closer to home.
Awaiting him is Penelope, defying reports of his death. But this queen endures her own tormentors – an army of young suitors eager to claim her hand and the throne . . .

Stephen Fry is an award-winning comedian, actor, presenter and director. He rose to fame alongside Hugh Laurie in A Bit of Fry and Laurie (which he co-wrote with Laurie) and Jeeves and Wooster and was unforgettable as General Melchett in Blackadder. He has hosted over 180 episodes of QI and has narrated all seven of the Harry Potter novels for the audiobook recordings. He is the bestselling author of four novels - The Liar, The Hippopotamus, Making History and The Stars' Tennis Balls - as well as three volumes of autobiography - Moab is My Washpot, The Fry Chronicles and More Fool Me. Mythos, Heroes, Troy and Odyssey, his retellings of the Greek myths, are all Sunday Times bestsellers.

Odyssey completes his Greek Myths series in marvellous fashion. . . Fry, a born storyteller, succeeds again in making the ancient stories accessible, gently modernising the language and dotting his journey with explanatory and often amusing footnotes — Irish Independent

Relatable and full of humour . . . Odyssey brings [the] four-book sequence satisfyingly to a close — Guardian

Outstandingly entertaining quartet of books . . . Fry breathes contemporary relevance into these ancient tales. As with his previous titles, he combines scholarly research with a lightness of touch, and his wry sense of humour and natural gift for storytelling make for a highly engaging read — Observer

A sweeping, engrossing story — i

Imaginative — Daily Mail

The familiar narrative bounds along in a chatty style, coloured with mildly revisionist insights into the characters — Daily Mail

Accessible storytelling and Fry brings warmth, exuberance and humour. Hard to beat — Guardian

A romp through the lives of ancient Greek gods. Fry is at his story-telling best . . . the gods will be pleased — The Times

A head-spinning marathon of legends — Guardian

An odyssey through Greek mythology. Brilliant - all hail Stephen Fry — Daily Mail

Odyssey by Stephen Fry is a modern retelling of one of the greatest stories ever told, bringing Homer's ancient epic to life with humor, warmth, and vivid storytelling. While remaining faithful to the original myth, Fry presents the tale in a way that feels accessible to contemporary readers. The novel follows the legendary Greek hero Odysseus as he struggles to return home after the Trojan War, facing monsters, gods, temptations, and impossible challenges along the way. More than an adventure, it is a story about intelligence, endurance, family, and the deep longing to return to the people and place one truly belongs.

The story begins after the fall of Troy, where the Greeks have finally won the long and brutal war. While many warriors return safely to their kingdoms, Odysseus, the clever king of Ithaca, finds that his own journey home will be far more difficult than anyone could have imagined. Although he is admired for his intelligence and resourcefulness, he has unknowingly earned the hatred of Poseidon, the powerful god of the sea. From that moment on, every step of his voyage becomes a struggle against divine anger as well as the dangers of the natural world.

Back in Ithaca, Odysseus's wife, Penelope, and their son, Telemachus, continue to wait for his return. Nearly twenty years have passed since Odysseus left for Troy, and most people believe he is dead. The palace has become overrun with arrogant suitors who hope to marry Penelope and claim the throne. They waste the kingdom's wealth while pressuring her to choose a new husband. Penelope, however, remains faithful to Odysseus. Using her intelligence, she delays the decision by promising to choose a husband only after completing a burial shroud, secretly undoing her work each night so the task never ends.

Meanwhile, Telemachus grows into adulthood without his father. Encouraged by the goddess Athena, who has always admired Odysseus, he sets out to search for news of him. His journey helps him develop confidence and leadership, preparing him for the responsibilities that await him. Although he learns little about his father's whereabouts, he gains valuable experience and begins to believe that Odysseus may still be alive.

Odysseus's own adventures are filled with extraordinary encounters. One of the earliest challenges comes when he and his men land on the island of the Lotus-Eaters, whose magical fruit causes people to forget everything except the desire to remain there forever. Odysseus forces his men back to the ships before they lose themselves completely. Soon afterward they encounter the terrifying Cyclops Polyphemus, a giant who traps them inside his cave and begins eating the crew one by one. Rather than relying on strength alone, Odysseus devises a clever plan. He tricks the Cyclops, blinds him while he sleeps, and escapes by hiding beneath the giant's sheep. However, his pride gets the better of him when he reveals his name during his escape, allowing Polyphemus to call upon Poseidon for revenge.

The voyage continues with new dangers at every turn. Aeolus, the keeper of the winds, gives Odysseus a bag containing every dangerous wind, leaving only the favorable breeze to carry the ships safely home. Unfortunately, his curious crew opens the bag, believing it contains treasure, releasing the winds and blowing the fleet far away from Ithaca just as home comes into sight. This heartbreaking setback reminds Odysseus that even brilliant leadership cannot always overcome human weakness.

The travelers next encounter the monstrous Laestrygonians, who destroy nearly all of Odysseus's fleet. The few survivors eventually reach the island of the enchantress Circe, who transforms many of his companions into pigs. With help from the messenger god Hermes, Odysseus resists her magic and persuades Circe to restore his men. They remain on her island for a year before she advises him to seek guidance from the prophet Tiresias in the Underworld. This strange journey among the spirits of the dead forces Odysseus to confront both the consequences of the past and the dangers that still lie ahead.

Following Tiresias's warnings, Odysseus survives the irresistible songs of the Sirens by having his sailors block their ears with wax while he is tied to the ship's mast so he can hear the beautiful music without steering toward destruction. He later guides his ship between Scylla, the six-headed sea monster, and Charybdis, the deadly whirlpool. Though he loses several companions, he manages to save the rest of the crew from complete disaster.

The greatest tragedy occurs when his exhausted men ignore repeated warnings and slaughter the sacred cattle belonging to the sun god Helios. Their disobedience brings divine punishment. Zeus destroys the ship with a thunderbolt, killing everyone except Odysseus. Alone and grieving, he drifts across the sea until he reaches the island of the nymph Calypso, who falls in love with him and keeps him there for many years. Although she offers him immortality, Odysseus longs only for his family and homeland. Eventually, the gods order Calypso to release him, allowing him to continue his journey.

After surviving yet another storm sent by Poseidon, Odysseus reaches the peaceful land of the Phaeacians. They welcome the weary hero with kindness, and after hearing his remarkable adventures, they provide a ship to carry him safely back to Ithaca. Athena disguises him as an old beggar so he can secretly assess the situation in his kingdom. Reunited with Telemachus, father and son carefully plan how to reclaim the palace from the suitors.

Disguised as a poor traveler, Odysseus patiently endures insults and humiliation while observing who has remained loyal. Penelope eventually announces a contest requiring anyone wishing to marry her to string Odysseus's great bow and shoot an arrow through twelve axe heads. None of the suitors can even string the bow. Odysseus steps forward, easily completes the challenge, reveals his true identity, and, with the help of Telemachus and a few faithful servants, defeats the suitors in a fierce battle that restores justice to Ithaca.

Even after the fighting ends, Penelope wisely tests the man claiming to be her husband before accepting him. When Odysseus reveals a secret known only to the two of them, she finally believes that he has truly returned. Their joyful reunion marks the end of a journey that has lasted twenty years. Athena then intervenes to restore peace across the kingdom, ensuring that the violence comes to an end.

Stephen Fry's Odyssey transforms an ancient epic into an engaging and highly readable novel while preserving its timeless themes. Through his lively storytelling, humor, and deep appreciation for Greek mythology, Fry presents Odysseus as both a brilliant hero and a flawed human being whose greatest strengths are his resilience and intelligence. The novel celebrates courage, loyalty, perseverance, and the enduring power of home, reminding readers that the greatest victories are often won not through strength alone, but through wisdom, patience, and an unwavering determination to keep moving forward.