LITERATURE
September Book Club Charlotte Griffiths selects some iconic reads to see out the summer The Odyssey EMILY WILSON
You’ve seen the blockbuster… now read the book! This is the most recent translation of Homer’s epic tale, the first English translation by a woman, and it makes a perfect introduction to the near-3,000-year-old poem. For those not familiar with the source text, The Odyssey tells the story of King Odysseus’ return home after playing his part in the fall of Troy, as well as the parallel tales of his wife Penelope and son Telemachus, who have been waiting for him at home in Ithaca for 20 years. On his journey back to them he encounters gods and mortals, violent monsters and helpful allies, losing men along the way but gaining more understanding of the fragile bonds between humans that are so easily and so devastatingly broken. Translator Emily Wilson is a classicist and academic (and big sister of Cambridge-resident food writer Bee) and embarked on this work with the aim of using modern English in the familiar Shakespearean rhythm of iambic pentameter – that’s five ‘de-dum’ beats per line – as well as keeping to the same line-count as Homer’s original to retell the iconic story. Translation is always fraught with consequences, but in this new version Wilson has swept away any discomfort felt by previous translators – for instance, where other versions might use ‘maid’, she chooses ‘slave’. The result of Wilson’s brilliance is refreshing and stripped back, leaving you with an unequivocally clear-eyed look at Homer’s complicated hero and the web of human relationships that make this ancient work relatable, even in 2026.
Wilson’s brilliance is refreshing and stripped back , leaving you with a clear-eyed look at Homer’s hero
Open ANDRE AGASSI What a book. This is the autobiography of 90s tennis legend Andre Agassi, written by the player in partnership with famous ghostwriter JR Moehringer, more recently known for creating Prince Harry’s memoir Spare . It tells the story of Agassi’s childhood with an overbearing and ambitious father, his early entry to punishing tennis academies and rise to meteoric fame, as well as his key relationships including marriages with actor Brooke Shields and fellow tennis superstar Steffi Graf. Open is a fantastic page-turner of a book, with a real sense of urgency when Agassi is describing key matches against legendary figures such as Boris Becker or Pete Sampras.
It almost feels like being on the court alongside him as he battles his opponents. Even those not into tennis will find themselves open-mouthed at the physical pain endured by the young athlete during the fitness regimes designed by his coaches and trainers, and the demands of the competitive tennis circuit. It’s a fascinating insight into the experience of life at the top of a gruelling sport, showing in brutal detail what happens when you achieve your goals at such a young age. When you’re number one in the world, what do you do next? A heady dose of 90s and 2000s nostalgia that’s funny, inspirational and definitely not just for tennis fans.
28 SEPTEMBER 2026 CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
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