Odysseymania: Homer's epic poem adapted for film climbs bestseller lists

Christopher Nolan's cinematic adaptation of Homer's ancient epic, the "Odyssey," has ignited a resurgence of interest in the millennia-old poem, leading to a significant increase in sales and a phenomenon dubbed "Odisemanía" (Odysseymania).

Bookstores across Argentina have witnessed a surge in demand for various editions of Homer's tale of Odysseus's return to Ithaca. Major bookstore chains report that different versions of the "Odyssey" have climbed bestseller lists, with some reaching the top ten. This renewed reader engagement spans all age groups, with customers actively seeking out the classic epic.

Publishers are responding to the heightened demand by reprinting popular editions. Penguin Random House is reissuing the "Odyssey" translated by Samuel Butler, a version recommended by Jorge Luis Borges. This edition includes illustrations and maps by Calpurnio, as well as "micro-versions" contributed by notable authors like Margaret Atwood and Nick Cave. During July, the online platform Buscalibre sold 350 copies of this specific edition.

Bookstores are also highlighting different translations and interpretations. Andrés Rodríguez from the De la Mancha bookstore mentioned the popularity of a "hedonistic" version and noted the upcoming arrival of a bilingual Greek-Spanish edition from the Spanish publisher Abada. This version, based on recent philological editions, translates the original dactylic hexameter into free verse while maintaining the poem's extensive verse count. Other classic translations, such as the one by Luis Segalá y Estalella, are also available and being reprinted.