Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea

Journeys through Ancient Literature

By: Emily Wilson

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Paperback | 9 June 2026

At a Glance

Paperback
288 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
19.8 x 12.8 x 2.3

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$34.75

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'Brilliant ... enthralling and profoundly relevant' Salman Rushdie

'Joyful, illuminating and engaging ... required reading for anyone interested in translation' Madeline Miller

How do we give old words new voices? What must a translator lose - and might she gain - when she moves between languages, bringing ancient stories to modern life?

Reflecting on the inspiration, interpretation and (mis)appropriation of words from Antiquity to today, Emily Wilson invites us to explore the translator's art and mind - and gives a wholly fresh insight into the joys and quandaries of her own work.

From Athenian comedy and Rome's love of Greek culture to Han Kang's novels, Cardi B's lyrics and the discoveries she made whilst translating Homer, this is a playful and fascinating voyage into the promise, possibility and constant renewal of our founding classical culture.

Emily Wilson's brilliant reconsiderations of the ancient world - through the figure of Helen of Troy, the remaking of the Iliad by Christopher Logue, the use of comedy to grapple with dark matters, even slavery, and much besides - makes this an enthralling and profoundly relevant book -- Salman Rushdie

I adored reading these joyful, illuminating, and engrossing journeys through ancient literature. Wilson's interest is wide-ranging, moving with elegance and insight across genres and millennia. With wit, passion, and clarity, she invites us into each of these fascinating subjects. The final essay especially is required reading for anyone interested in translation, drawing back the veil on how a brilliant scholar and writer approaches her work -- Madeline Miller, author of THE SONG OF ACHILLES

Vaulting from the ancient to the modern and back again, this collection is erudite, insightful and provocative. An unparalleled insight into the work of a classicist and translator at the height of their powers -- Paul Cooper, author of FALL OF CIVILIZATIONS

We're incredibly lucky to have Emily Wilson writing about the art, politics and ethics of translation and retranslation. Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea is an impressive display of Wilson's expertise, conviction and wit. Her impact within and without the world of literary translation has been huge -- Jen Calleja, author of FAIR: THE LIFE-ART OF TRANSLATION

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