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M. I. Finley
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The World of Odysseus: Revised Edition Paperback – 28 June 1979

by M. Finley (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 77 ratings
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  1. Print length
    192 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Penguin
  4. Publication date
    28 June 1979
  5. Dimensions
    17.78 x 2.54 x 12.7 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    0140205705
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0140205701
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin; Revised ed. edition (28 June 1979)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 192 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0140205705
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0140205701
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 17.78 x 2.54 x 12.7 cm
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 77 ratings

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M. I. Finley

M. I. Finley

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Charles Vasey
5.0 out of 5 stars The World of Homer
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 May 2014
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This is a very interesting attempt by a distinguished historian to imagine the era of Homer by looking at how he, in turn, imagined the Heroic Age to have been: much as the Arthurian legend tells us more about the Middle Ages or Victorian England than Romano-British cavalry armies. As such it is little to do with the world of wily Odysseus but rather that of Homer's listeners or readers, so if you were hoping for a chat about Linear B and the Trojan War you will be sadly disillusioned. However, as a discussion of the ethos of warrior societies, of how legends grow and how heroes like to be seen (as against how they are) I doubt this account can be bettered
7 people found this helpful
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Dave (D.J.) Butler
5.0 out of 5 stars The Anthropology of Homer
Reviewed in the United States on 6 November 2002
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Finley only briefly ventures into archaeology in the beginning of _The World of Odysseus_, and only to demonstrate that Mycenean Greece is not the world of the Homeric heroes. From this conclusion he guesses that Homer is likely describing a world that existed between the Mycenean era and the poet's own time.
Finley then goes literary, eschewing anthropology and archaeology and instead analyzing the texts of the Iliad and the Odyssey. From the stories of Homer, he reconstructs the sort of society in the Homeric heroes lived, in terms of its economy, its social structure, and its morals and values.
The picture he draws is interesting and compelling, above all because it is consistent. Its consistency is, of course, an argument in favor of the view that the Homeric world really did exist (i.e., that gods and magic and specific names aside, the cultural world described by Homer is authentic, and not an artistic creation). Moreover, because the culture is consistent, an understanding of it helps a reader to interpret sometimes puzzling actions on the part of Homer's heroes. This is therefore important secondary reading to accompany any reading of Homer.
54 people found this helpful
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CANCEL Do not show name.
5.0 out of 5 stars Classic work of scholarship on a Greek classic
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 July 2021
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This book is a classic in its field; it has held
that position for many years and will continue
to do so. I am using it as a reference point
in a group of readers, some with professional
qualifications in the classics, but who are all
meeting to read for pleasure.
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Brontina
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and informative
Reviewed in the United States on 6 March 2013
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I am reading this book while re-reading the works of Homer and it is extremely helpful. This book provides lots of information and insights on social relationships, customs, economy in ancient Greece. It is helping me better understand literature that I love and the world in which its heroes moved and interacted with each other. Great reading! You can tell that the author has an immense knowledge of the era, but is able to convey it in a light, easy-to-access way. I would suggest this book to anyone interested in ancient Greek culture.
6 people found this helpful
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Robin de Wilde
5.0 out of 5 stars Classic by a great scholar
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 June 2018
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This is a classic, written by a great scholar and it offers so many insights into this area, that I am grateful that I purchased it.
One person found this helpful
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