Emily Wilson on Translating Homer, Culture Wars, and Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey'

Emily Wilson, the University of Pennsylvania professor whose translations of 'The Odyssey' and 'The Iliad' have become landmark works, discusses the upcoming Christopher Nolan film adaptation and the controversies surrounding both her work and the movie. Wilson was the first woman to publish an English translation of 'The Odyssey' in 2017, which drew both acclaim and backlash for its accessible language. Nolan cited her opening line—'Tell me about a complicated man'—as an inspiration. Wilson's forthcoming book, 'Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea,' explains her translation philosophy. She addresses the online backlash against Nolan's casting of a trans actor and a Black woman as Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra, calling it 'made-up controversy.' Wilson critiques Nolan's track record with female characters but remains open to the adaptation, noting that 'The Odyssey' has been reinvented countless times. She also discusses her approach to translation, including her rejection of sexualized language for the Sirens and derogatory terms for enslaved women, which she sees as pushing back against misogynist interjections by previous translators. Wilson adds a 'misogynistic trolling' button to her website in response to ongoing harassment.