Nolan's 'Odyssey' Sparks Huge Mythology Book Boom

Thousands read Homer's epic and Greek mythology after turning off their TV set in his movies. Christopher Nolan’s newest commercial, The Odyssey, is not just selling well, it also has everyone reading classic tales about the past and present, one day at least, and a decade after release to the UK. It's estimated that since the film's release, the sale of Homer's 'The Odyssey' as well as a number of other Greek mythology books have grown remarkably across the UK.

The film has piqued new interest in ancient stories, with readers purchasing both dated and recent versions of Homer’s legendary epic. “It could also get a lot more young people into studying Greek and Roman history and literature,” experts say. Book Sales Reach Record High. The Odyssey’s sales have risen by 1,400% for Britain print retail in the four weeks following its release, according to NielsenIQ — according to a market research firm. Among the best-sellers is Emily Wilson’s 2017 English translation of The Odyssey, which has seen a huge increase in sales. Sales of Wilson’s translation have also been reported to have increased over 1,000% from a year ago on average across the UK bookstore chain Waterstones. Demand for other translations is also rising each week, according to the company. More Greek Mythology Books on Trends, too. Nolan’s film’s success has spurred interest in lots of other mythology books. Things from popular titles with strong sales include:

The Iliad by Homer. Circe by Madeline Miller. The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood. On Amazon UK, Stephen Fry’s “The Odyssey” is the top-selling history book. His other mythology volumes, Mythos and Troy, are also among the best sellers on the platform. Spotify has also reported a 310% increase in searches for audiobook adaptations of The Odyssey. Experts Welcome the New Interest. Classics researchers said the rise in popularity of these books is a good thing. Richard Kendall, a lecturer in Classics at the University of Exeter, said those stories have continued to be popular for more than some 2,000 years because they are vibrant and timeless. He thinks Nolan's film has introduced Greek mythology. Another UCL student at the University College London (UCL) also wants the film to bring to light classics.

What is 'The Odyssey' About? The Odyssey, one of the world's oldest and most famous poems, was originally written around the 7th or 8th century BC by Homer the Ancient Greek writer. It tells the story of Odysseus, a Greek hero whose dangerous adventures bring on mythical beasts and creatures while striving to go home from war after the Trojan War. Christopher Nolan's film stars:

Matt Damon was the film’s Odysseus, not just to tell the epic. Anne Hathaway as Penelope. Tom Holland as Telemachus. The movie has since been a worldwide hit grossing over $640 million and topped the US box office for two weeks running. Critics Share Mixed Opinions. The film has enjoyed praise from audiences but some experts have taken the latter critic of Nolan's version. Emily Wilson, the translator — and one whose translation of The Odyssey has become a bestseller — said the film doesn’t have the emotional and psychological depth of Homer’s original work. Even the well-known historian Mary Beard (who also did not like the adaptation) believed that the film missed some significant parts of the ancient poem, though she loved the renewed interest in Greek mythology. The other two experts did agree that a movie that was praised as an improvement for it has prompted more people to find, in the way Homer might-be-ideal, their love affair with Homer’s timeless masterpiece.

Conclusion. In this way, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is not only entertaining audiences while it has brought ancient Greek mythos back in focus, the more modern world. For books with a big lift and an upturn in sales, audiobook searches rising and lots of interest from universities looking to get more Classics students into the classroom, the film is showing that old tales, even told thousands of years ago, can still engage modern-day readers who have the imagination. Whether on screen or in books, The Odyssey is still appealing, continuing to stimulate people globally, showing the vast world that great tales have never really aged.