What Madeline Miller has said about Literary translation
2 quotes · 1 episode · Jul 12, 2026
Madeline Miller, American novelist and classics teacher, author of Circe and The Song of Achilles, 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
Miller says successful retellings are judged not by closeness to the text but by the fullness of the writer's vision.
“When you are adapting, there really are no rules. You can write very close to the text and not be successful and very far from the text and be completely successful”
The Daily: What’s Epic About the ‘Odyssey’? Everything. (Jul 12, 2026) · Listen from 17:42
Miller compares objections to new versions of the Odyssey to wanting only one production of King Lear to exist.
“it's like, you know, wanting there to be only one production of King Lear ever. And that's it. No other productions, no other ideas”
The Daily: What’s Epic About the ‘Odyssey’? Everything. (Jul 12, 2026) · Listen from 23:06
Episodes
What’s Epic About the ‘Odyssey’? Everything.The Daily · Jul 12, 2026 · 51 min
Natalie Kitroeff talks with translator Emily Wilson and novelist Madeline Miller about the Odyssey ahead of Christopher Nolan's film adaptation.
Others on Literary translation
- Emily Wilson · 2 quotes
Madeline Miller on other topics
- Penelope · 2 quotes
- The Odyssey (2026 film) · 1 quote
- Telemachus · 1 quote
- Odysseus · 1 quote
- Circe (novel) · 1 quote