What to read after you see The Odyssey
Whether you’re excited or wary about Christopher Nolan’s new film of The Odyssey, there’s a good chance Greek mythology fever has hit you. Much like the how often do you think about the Roman Empire trend from a few years ago, this wave of Greek mania is exciting for me. I love Greek history and historical fiction and myth, and the influx of new books right now has seriously bogged down my TBR. Also, as a lover of classic lit, the fact people are excited to read Homer brings me real joy.
So, if you’re anything like me, you’re all about finding all the retellings and histories you can. To help you out, below are just a few of the great reads you can grab on the Libby app to keep the flame of your Greek love alive.
The Odyssey
by Homer
Obviously, any reading journey should start with Homer if you’ve never read it before, or if it’s been a while. To say there are a lot of translations to choose from is an understatement. I’m a Robert Fagles fan. Christopher Nolan has referenced Emily Wilson’s 2017 translation. And I really want to pencil in time for the Daniel Mendelsohn translation from last year. Oh, and there’s also an audiobook read by the wonderful British actor Anton Lesser (who you might know from Game of Thrones, Endeavor, or a million other things). Truly, you could spend the entire rest of the summer with The Odyssey, which might not be so bad.
Sweetbitter Song
by Rosie Hewlett
Have you ever found yourself wanting to know more about Penelope, Odysseus’s wife, who spends decades fending off suitors while her husband is away? Did you also enjoy the aching romance of The Song of Achilles? If so, Sweetbitter Song just might be your perfect read. Beginning with Penelope as a young, unmarried princess, the novel examines her long relationship with the Spartan slave girl, Melantho. The story gets a little dark, and if you’re the weepy type, keep tissues nearby.
Argo
by Mark Knowles
If what you enjoy about The Odyssey is the adventure at sea, then Mark Knowles’s Argo is perfect. In this novel, Jason arrives at his uncle King Pelias’s court looking for revenge and to take the throne for himself. But his uncle gives him a task—steal the Golden Fleece. Jason puts together a team, and they set off on the Argo to fulfill Jason’s destiny, but, naturally, dangers await! Knowles really brings to life the journey of the Argonauts, and it’s just Book 1 in a series.
Athens and Sparta
by Adrian Goldsworthy
One of my favorite reads so far this year is Goldsworthy’s deep dive into the most important relationship in the Greek world—that between the major powers of Athens and Sparta. Sometimes they joined forces, as when they fought the Persian invasion of Xerxes. But they also fought each other for dominance of the Hellenic world. The men and battles and the epic Peloponnesian War not only shaped ancient Greece, but the Roman Empire, and after it, the whole of the Western World.
Bonus picks, because I can’t help myself:
- The Peloponnesian War by Donald Kagan
- A War Like No Other by Victor Davis Hanson
- And the OG: The History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides, translated by Richard Crawley
The Odyssey Effect
by Erica Stevenson
Why are we even talking about The Odyssey right now? Why is Christopher Nolan’s movie the hottest topic in the film and literature worlds and beyond? Why does this story of a crafty Ithacan trying to get home after war still matter? Erica Stevenson dives into these questions and more as she recounts the epic poem’s significance in her own life, beginning with her first reading as a teen hospitalized with mental health problems. Her belief in the story’s power is infectious.
Themistocles
by Michael Scott
Odysseus was viewed not just as a hero to the ancient Greeks, but as a clever mastermind worthy of emulation. And no other ancient Greek was more Odyssean than Themistocles. From humble origins, Themistocles rose in Athenian society through gifts of rhetoric and intelligence, becoming a political and military leader, including commanding the navy at the vital Battle of Salamis. (Another bonus pick: Barry Strauss’s The Battle of Salamis.) But no one experiences a rise like Themistocles’s without making some enemies on the way up. Truly, the arc of his life is worthy of its own epic poem, or at least this highly engaging biography by Scott.
The Aftermyth
by Tracy Wolff
What if Greek mythology was actually just one big, modern day magic school? Well, it would look a whole lot like Tracy Woolf’s new The Aftermyth series. Penelope Weaver and her brother, Paris, head off to Anaximander’s Academy, where Penelope, at least, is ready to learn. Certain she will be part of Athena Hall, Penelope is shocked when told her talents lie in the more practical. Still, adventure awaits, and this is an excellent next read for anyone who has ripped through all the Percy Jackson books and needs a new middle grade read.
Greeking Out
by Kenny Curtis
For the beginning mythologist, this charming National Geographic series (that’s also a podcast) is a great place to start. This first volume opens, well, at the very beginning with the battle between the Titans and Olympians, as well as Cronus’s rather disgusting habit of eating his own children. With lots of sidebars to dive deeper into topics and fun illustrations, this first volume covers favorites such as Pandora, the Minotaur, Icarus, and more! And if the budding myth lover in your life needs more, this is just the first of three volumes.
*Title availability may vary.
So, check out one (or many) of these great reads in the Libby app before, after, or instead of seeing the new Odyssey movie. Because Greek history never really goes out of fashion.
RELATED READ: 30+ book-to-screen adaptations to watch for in 2026
Published Jul 17, 2026
Shelia Mawdsley
Shelia Mawdsley did everything from answering questions at the Reference Desk to tech training to running a classic lit book club in her 17 years in public libraries. Now she helps other public libraries make the most of their collections in Libby. In her spare time, she’s either writing or reading, usually with an opera playing in the background. If you ever run into her, ask Shelia about #WITMonth.