What Emily Wilson has said about Literary translation

2 quotes · 1 episode · Jul 12, 2026

Emily Wilson, Classicist and translator, the first woman to translate Homer's Odyssey into English, has been quoted on Literary translation 2 times in 1 episode of The Daily, most recently on July 12, 2026. Each quote below is verbatim and links to the moment it was said.

In their words

  • Wilson rejects the modern assumption that contemporary readers cannot tolerate metrical rhythm in translation.

    “in the modern era, there's been this assumption that modern readers can't tolerate rhythm, which I think is false. I think modern readers can totally tolerate rhythm and, in fact, love it”

    The Daily: What’s Epic About the ‘Odyssey’? Everything. (Jul 12, 2026) · Listen from 9:26

  • Wilson says it is strange to think one translation erases others and that the canon has room for many interpretations.

    “I think there's something quite strange about the idea that the canon doesn't have room for many, many different interpretations, translations, engagements, reinventions”

    The Daily: What’s Epic About the ‘Odyssey’? Everything. (Jul 12, 2026) · Listen from 22:55

Episodes

Others on Literary translation

Emily Wilson on other topics