San Francisco libraries are seeing a surge in demand for copies of Emily Wilson’s 2017 translation of "The Odyssey," with hundreds of readers reportedly on waitlists. The rush comes as Christopher Nolan’s take on the ancient Greek epic draws major attention in theaters.
The renewed interest shows how a big-screen adaptation can send audiences back to the original text, or in this case a widely discussed modern translation. Wilson’s version has been especially prominent in the conversation, making it a sought-after library title as moviegoers look for the story behind the film.
The film’s casting has also helped keep the project in the spotlight, with Matt Damon playing Odysseus and Zendaya appearing as Athena. That kind of star power, combined with Nolan’s name, has turned a classic work into a fresh pop-culture event.
At the same time, the article notes that Wilson has spoken critically about Nolan’s version. Even with that disagreement, the film appears to be driving readers toward her translation, creating a rare moment where a centuries-old poem is suddenly one of the hottest library requests in San Francisco.
