An Odyssey

A Father, a Son, and an Epic

By: Daniel Mendelsohn

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

Length: 10 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

From award-winning memoirist and critic, and best-selling author of The Lost: a deeply moving tale of a father and son's transformative journey in reading - and reliving - Homer's epic masterpiece.

When 81-year-old Jay Mendelsohn decides to enroll in the undergraduate Odyssey seminar his son teaches at Bard College, the two find themselves on an adventure as profoundly emotional as it is intellectual. For Jay, a retired research scientist who sees the world through a mathematician's unforgiving eyes, this return to the classroom is his "one last chance" to learn the great literature he'd neglected in his youth - and, even more, a final opportunity to more fully understand his son, a writer and classicist. But through the sometimes uncomfortable months that the two men explore Homer's great work together - first in the classroom, where Jay persistently challenges his son's interpretations, and then during a surprise-filled Mediterranean journey retracing Odysseus's famous voyages - it becomes clear that Daniel has much to learn, too: Jay's responses to both the text and the travels gradually uncover long-buried secrets that allow the son to understand his difficult father at last. As this intricately woven memoir builds to its wrenching climax, Mendelsohn's narrative comes to echo the Odyssey itself, with its timeless themes of deception and recognition, marriage and children, the pleasures of travel and the meaning of home. Rich with literary and emotional insight, An Odyssey is a renowned author-scholar's most triumphant entwining yet of personal narrative and literary exploration.

©2017 Daniel Mendelsohn (P)2017 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Mendelsohn is an artful storyteller whose skills are equal to the task of weaving Homer's poem into his own life. In this insightful, tender book, Mendelsohn gracefully marries literary criticism and memoir to describe an intellectual and personal journey that becomes one of profound discovery for both [father and son]. Most impressive are his transitions from scholarly consideration of The Odyssey to intimate stories of his family life, as when the class discussion flows effortlessly into a magical moment, witnessing [his father] Jay as he offers a heartbreakingly beautiful tribute to his wife.... [There are] many wise lessons to be gleaned from this lovely book." (Harvey Freedenberg, BookPage)

"Beguiling...in this memoir, Mendelsohn recounts a freshman class on the Odyssey he taught at Bard College with his father, an 81-year-old computer scientist, sitting in. ...Mendelsohn gradually unwraps layers of timeless meaning in the ancient Greek poem; Homeric heroes offer resonant psychological parallels to a modern family. Mendelsohn weaves trenchant literary analysis and family history into a luminous whole. A gem." ( Publishers Weekly)

A voyage for all of us

This is an astounding and moving book. Part psychological meditation on identity, part linguistic and mythological explication, having Mendelsohn as a guide is having the best teacher you could imagine. His compassion, insight and love of both his father and his students--as well as his subject--were spot on. I was sorry to reach the end.

nice story

it's like being in a real good book club for Homer's The Odyssey, different perspectives and insights throughout.

Beautiful story

This was a beautifully told story about how stories connect us across generations — told with both heart and

Endearing, but a little dull

I found this book a little boring at times, but largely endearing. Good Brooklyn accent. The seminar material was more interesting than the memoir itself.

Excellent story and narration

Pinchot’s voice is an ideal match for this thoughtful memoir centered on two Odysseys—that of Odysseus and that of the author’s father.

Worth reading twice to fully appreciate

I read my library"s copy of the book, before getting the audio book, so I could let a friend without internet listen and enjoy the book with me. I enjoyed it even more the second time around.

A Gift of a Memoir

This book is one of those where I felt completely bereft when it was finished. I have loved listening to this multi faceted story. Every level interconnects from what we learn about ancient languages to the epic itself, about a teacher and students, and most of all, about fathers and sons. Beautifully crafted. I am left with so many things to think about. Thank you, Daniel Mendelssohn.

Pretty nice

Interesting book, good insight on oddyssey class and father-son relationship.

But the narrator was in my opinion irritating and pathetic. He read it like some high school drama class...

Beautiful story & writing

This book was fascinating! I added so much to my meager memory of reading The Odyssey 50 years ago. The father/son conversations were so real to me. I have been moved by this book and will recommend it to others.

History woven into a nice tribute to a father

I enjoyed this book. It was well written and the narration was fabulous. It did get tedious at one or two points when the college professor couldn't help but lecture on and on. However, if you stuck with it, he wove the tale of Odysseus, his father Laertes, and his son, Telemachus, into his own life, where his dad played a starring role. I really enjoyed the portrayal of Dr. Mendelsohn's father, who enrolled in his son's seminar on the Odyssey. The voice of the authors' parents were so well rendered and so colorful it kept me going through the more pedantic passages.