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Voyage #4
The Ulysses Voyage: Sea Search for the Odyssey
The Odyssey is one of the greatest stories ever told - and one of the first great pieces of literature. After the Trojan War, Ulysses travelled back to his homeland. But what route did he take? And was the journey possible? In 1985, Tim Severin set out to find out. Once again making use of the Argo from 'The Jason Voyage' Severin followed the route of Ulysses' voyage home in The Odyssey, from Troy to Ithaca in the Ionian islands. Along the way, Severin made tentative or conclusive identifications of The land of the Lotus-eaters, King Nestor's palace, the Halls of Hades, the Roving Rocks, and the Sirens Scylla and Charybdis. The Ulysses Voyage, tells the thrilling story of the expedition, the historical research that went into it, and the discoveries Severin and his crew made along the way. It will have an irresistible appeal to scholars as well as lovers of adventure, travel and mystery. Tim Severin's sailing books have been widely praised.
253 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1987
37 people are currently reading
217 people want to read
About the author
Tim Severin
47 books268 followersTim Severin was a British explorer, historian and writer. Severin is noted for his work in retracing the legendary journeys of historical figures. Severin was awarded both the Gold Medal of the Royal Geographical Society and the Livingstone Medal of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. He received the Thomas Cook Travel Book Award for his 1982 book The Sindbad Voyage.
He was born Timothy Severin in Assam, India in 1940. Severin attended Tonbridge School and studied geography and history at Keble College, Oxford.
Severin has also written historical fiction along with non fiction. The Viking Series, first published in 2005, concerns a young Viking adventurer who travels the world. In 2007 he published The Adventures of Hector Lynch series set in the late 17th century about a 17-year-old Corsair.
He was born Timothy Severin in Assam, India in 1940. Severin attended Tonbridge School and studied geography and history at Keble College, Oxford.
Severin has also written historical fiction along with non fiction. The Viking Series, first published in 2005, concerns a young Viking adventurer who travels the world. In 2007 he published The Adventures of Hector Lynch series set in the late 17th century about a 17-year-old Corsair.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 8, 2023
In The Jason Voyage: The Quest For The Golden Fleece, Tim Severin documents the research for and the construction of a replica Bronze Age Galley, the Argo. He then sails it along the route of Jason's voyage for the golden fleece. At the end of that journey, he determined that he wasn't finished with the Argo, and that he would try and recreate the route of Ulysses in Homer's Odyssey.
This book is very different from the authors previous works (Brendan, Sindbad and Jason Voyages) where he spends a great amount of time explaining the history of the vessel, the difficulty in obtaining the raw materials to construct a true replica ship, and then the learning how to sail, and how to live in the conditions historically accurately. And of course there is usually a stunning storm sequence, or a capsize, or another thrilling event to open the story... There is none of that in this book. He has already explained it all for the Argo in The Jason Voyage, and we have learned of the sailing techniques and hardships aboard.
This book tackles the mystery of the fantastic locations of the Odyssey, starting at the known point of Troy. From this point on, Severin tackles each location in the story, takes a practical and logical approach - researching local tidal and weather conditions, local folklore, the historic naming of landmarks, the basic geography of the area, and the actual sailing ability of a Bronze age galley and comes to a conclusion for each.
Severins basic theory, follows the thought that Ulysses would have followed the most logical route home after Troy. The traditional locations for the Odyssey have Ulysses zig-zagging all over the Mediterranean, backtracking and following no logical route. Severin sets out a simple and realistic route from Troy back to Ithaca (Ulysses home), which brings a few unorthodox theories to the table.
It is a great read, and Severin manages to capture the excitement of discovery in his writing, to share his obvious enjoyment in doing what he does with his historical re-enactments, of really putting himself in history to understand why decisions were made, and why things happened.
I have no idea how well received these revised theories have been accepted by academia in general, whether they have been refuted, or ridiculed, but to me the book presents them with real legitimacy, and relies not just on one element of the situation to decide that "such and such place is here", but stacks up several elements to come to a conclusion that offers multiple reasons to consider.
If you are interested in the major turnaround theories, I have put really basic descriptions in a spoiler here, but really, if you are interested enough to read the spoiler, you should read the book instead!
This book is very different from the authors previous works (Brendan, Sindbad and Jason Voyages) where he spends a great amount of time explaining the history of the vessel, the difficulty in obtaining the raw materials to construct a true replica ship, and then the learning how to sail, and how to live in the conditions historically accurately. And of course there is usually a stunning storm sequence, or a capsize, or another thrilling event to open the story... There is none of that in this book. He has already explained it all for the Argo in The Jason Voyage, and we have learned of the sailing techniques and hardships aboard.
This book tackles the mystery of the fantastic locations of the Odyssey, starting at the known point of Troy. From this point on, Severin tackles each location in the story, takes a practical and logical approach - researching local tidal and weather conditions, local folklore, the historic naming of landmarks, the basic geography of the area, and the actual sailing ability of a Bronze age galley and comes to a conclusion for each.
Severins basic theory, follows the thought that Ulysses would have followed the most logical route home after Troy. The traditional locations for the Odyssey have Ulysses zig-zagging all over the Mediterranean, backtracking and following no logical route. Severin sets out a simple and realistic route from Troy back to Ithaca (Ulysses home), which brings a few unorthodox theories to the table.
It is a great read, and Severin manages to capture the excitement of discovery in his writing, to share his obvious enjoyment in doing what he does with his historical re-enactments, of really putting himself in history to understand why decisions were made, and why things happened.
I have no idea how well received these revised theories have been accepted by academia in general, whether they have been refuted, or ridiculed, but to me the book presents them with real legitimacy, and relies not just on one element of the situation to decide that "such and such place is here", but stacks up several elements to come to a conclusion that offers multiple reasons to consider.
If you are interested in the major turnaround theories, I have put really basic descriptions in a spoiler here, but really, if you are interested enough to read the spoiler, you should read the book instead!
January 4, 2012
This is a search for clues to the factual geography of the Odyssey using the Argo, a Greek replica of the Jason voyage to the Black Sea. Tim Severin used the boat wisely in attempting to locate landmarks from an actual vessel on a replicate voyage. Not being familiar with the geography myself, and not having detailed archeological studies to compare to, the research here is mostly convincing. It does tend to get tedious in places where fitting current places to the written text requires a somewhat rigorous analysis and enough evidence to support a conclusion.
The primary take away for me in this voyage and discussion, is that the early seagoing ships had more severe limitations than might be imagined, and the area of operation and scale of size of events doesn't match what is often pictured by present artists attempting to recreate the voyage by contemporary artistic gestures.
Also of note is that the Western Mediterranean was largely unexplored, apparently unsettled, and unrecorded until much closer to the classical Greek times. Since Cartage wasn't founded until 825 BC, then this makes questions of any Atlantic voyages seem highly unlikely before later dates.
The primary take away for me in this voyage and discussion, is that the early seagoing ships had more severe limitations than might be imagined, and the area of operation and scale of size of events doesn't match what is often pictured by present artists attempting to recreate the voyage by contemporary artistic gestures.
Also of note is that the Western Mediterranean was largely unexplored, apparently unsettled, and unrecorded until much closer to the classical Greek times. Since Cartage wasn't founded until 825 BC, then this makes questions of any Atlantic voyages seem highly unlikely before later dates.
October 25, 2021
This is basically the travels of a recreated Bronze Age Greek galley - The Argo - who attempted to follow the travels of Ulysses from ancient Troy to his home on the Greek island of Ithaca as told by Homer in The Odyssey.
The Argo is the same ship used by Severin when he traced the voyage of Jason in search of the Golden Fleece the previous year. This trip is over the summer of 1985. Admittedly, the ship was constructed slightly smaller than the ones used by Ulysses as the recreated rowing crew was also fewer in number. Original galleys had an estimated 50 rowers per ship while was limited to a crew of 20. As Severin writes - this is mainly a case of looking at the clues that Homer relayed - remember that this was originally an oral epic to entertain, not a pilot book or a gazetteer. Landmarks would contribute to the tale as well as long forgotten towns and people who may be dimly remembered in local folklore.
Researchers have placed some of the landing sites just about everywhere in the Mediterranean as well as outside the Straits of Gibraltar but they have never - or at least, not before the author's trip - actually sailed in a small, open vessel in order to experience the winds as well as the water currents as the sailors of yore had to.
Overall, the time that Ulysses was actually at sea easily fits into a single sailing season of three to four months. Following the coast from where Troy is considered to have been located. Dealing with currents and winds that local fishermen are so knowledgeable and familiar. Finding plausible sites for all the notable locations - from the lotus-eaters on the coast of Libya to the cyclops that lived on naturally grown crops which could be due to abandoned Minoan towns and villages on the southern coast of Crete. Finding natural harbors - although some areas have silted in or have been modified by human intervention over the millenia - along with caves and islands that fit Homer's descriptions. Even monstrous Scylla's cavern home on Mount Lamia and is now a cave chapel dedicated to St. Anthony.
It's a fun book and certainly gives some insight into the culture of these numerous little kingdoms from Bronze Age Greece - that'll be about 4500 years ago. You have to admire the fact that the author actually took an open ship based on illustrations from pottery artifacts out onto the temperamental Aegean, Mediterranean and Ionian seas in an attempt to see what was actually waiting to be found by someone that would look without expectations.
2021-218
The Argo is the same ship used by Severin when he traced the voyage of Jason in search of the Golden Fleece the previous year. This trip is over the summer of 1985. Admittedly, the ship was constructed slightly smaller than the ones used by Ulysses as the recreated rowing crew was also fewer in number. Original galleys had an estimated 50 rowers per ship while was limited to a crew of 20. As Severin writes - this is mainly a case of looking at the clues that Homer relayed - remember that this was originally an oral epic to entertain, not a pilot book or a gazetteer. Landmarks would contribute to the tale as well as long forgotten towns and people who may be dimly remembered in local folklore.
Researchers have placed some of the landing sites just about everywhere in the Mediterranean as well as outside the Straits of Gibraltar but they have never - or at least, not before the author's trip - actually sailed in a small, open vessel in order to experience the winds as well as the water currents as the sailors of yore had to.
Overall, the time that Ulysses was actually at sea easily fits into a single sailing season of three to four months. Following the coast from where Troy is considered to have been located. Dealing with currents and winds that local fishermen are so knowledgeable and familiar. Finding plausible sites for all the notable locations - from the lotus-eaters on the coast of Libya to the cyclops that lived on naturally grown crops which could be due to abandoned Minoan towns and villages on the southern coast of Crete. Finding natural harbors - although some areas have silted in or have been modified by human intervention over the millenia - along with caves and islands that fit Homer's descriptions. Even monstrous Scylla's cavern home on Mount Lamia and is now a cave chapel dedicated to St. Anthony.
It's a fun book and certainly gives some insight into the culture of these numerous little kingdoms from Bronze Age Greece - that'll be about 4500 years ago. You have to admire the fact that the author actually took an open ship based on illustrations from pottery artifacts out onto the temperamental Aegean, Mediterranean and Ionian seas in an attempt to see what was actually waiting to be found by someone that would look without expectations.
2021-218
December 10, 2019
Classicists are always told that Odysseus's voyages take place in a fantasy world, a tradition that goes back to Eratosthenes. Yet other ancient authors like Strabo (admired, but criticised by Severin who is certainly no follower of him) believed there was truth at the back of the stories. The digs at Hisarlik hint of a historical background to the Iliad, so why not the Odyssey? Severin's book is not a standard travelogue and we are, by and large, spared the usual personalia of that genre (to my relief, maybe to others' disappointment). The voyage takes place on Severin's bronze age replica ship the "Argo" and has the advantages of semi-realism in that sense. It also shows a clear knowledge of sailing in general and how such a vessel handles in particular. The overall hypothesis is that Odysseus's adventures are confined to the Eastern Mediterranean and many are much closer to home (S accepts Ithaca as Homer's Ithaca) than many have thought. The whole thing is a bit of a curate's egg. There are lots of sensible points made (some rather good ones about Aeolus) and the practicalities of sea-faring, particularly those about distances, are firmly underlined throughout. But there are also problems. Can the three-eyed monsters of Cretan folklore really be reduced to the one-eyed Cyclops? Things for me go badly wrong when we get Circe where Severin really gives no compelling evidence for his hypothesis and then giving up on Calypso's island seems frankly to be cheating. This isn't a book which has beaten Eratosthenes's challenge, but it does provide a lot of food for thought.
June 8, 2022
We tend to forget in these days of computers, drones and 3D imaging, that it was not long ago that archaeology was a field of study that occurred just as much through reading as through digging, and almost never through what is now known as "experimental archaeology". In fact that phrase is not even mentioned in The Ulysses Voyage - Severin I think would have balked at the idea that he was an archaeologist - but certainly his voyage in the Argo shows us how much of Homer's poem can be tied to real places in Greece.
With his re-enactment of Odysseus' voyage home from Troy, Severin laid to rest some of the theories that had abounded that much of the action of the poem occurred in Italy or points west. As he explains in the final chapter of the book, many of these flawed ideas can be laid at the feet of Strabo, who knew Italy (and Georgia, where he correctly deduced the voyage of the original Argo), but didn't know Greece at all and so moved much of the action of the Odyssey to places that he knew. The fact that some of his theories were taken seriously at all shows how the field of archaeology quite often can allow itself to be led in circles.
Severin starts out with a simple theorem - if I was Odysseus, how would I travel home from Troy? With that in mind, he proceeds along the coast of Greece, using the poem as a guide. Severin explains that in Ancient Greece, galleys proceeded at slow pace, and only when weather conditions were favourable. Severin also shows us that while the course of the Odyssey takes ten years to return to Ithaca, the actual sailing part of the story could be completed in one season. He then posits that the Odyssey is a conglomeration of many sailors stories turned into a narrative. Severin constantly discovers as he sails that much of the Odyssey that refers to the techniques and realities of sailing a Bronze Age galley is surprisingly accurate.
Some of the descriptions of localities are very accurate as well, and Severin discovers plausible sites for the lair of Scylla and the Cyclops, the island of Circe and of the Laestrygonians. He backs his theories with descriptions from Homer, and explaining how the sailing times would match from previous waypoints, and also on many occasions explaining how local legends have been used by Homer (the Cyclops a case in point), which also help to pinpoint locations.
The Ulysses Voyage reminds the reader to be wary of both complicated explanations for myths, and of putting current thinking onto the past. Greek galleys did not sail as far or as fast as later ships, for example - sailing stages of hundreds of miles simply weren't plausible for these vessels, and so some of the wilder theories could be fairly easily discounted. Likewise, deciding that a place must be part of the story, and then trying to bend reality to fit is not a way forward - Severin is very careful to try and not do this, which means that the island of Ogygia remains elusive. After all, the Odyssey is a poem, and not strict geography.
I found this book very enjoyable - it's easy to read, and neatly blends Severin's voyage with the ancient poem, and brings new light to the voyage of the wily Odysseus, and reaffirms his good sense (most of the time). If you are a fan of Homer (and if you aren't, you should be!), this is well worth reading.
Check out my other reviews at http://aviewoverthebell.blogspot.com.au/
With his re-enactment of Odysseus' voyage home from Troy, Severin laid to rest some of the theories that had abounded that much of the action of the poem occurred in Italy or points west. As he explains in the final chapter of the book, many of these flawed ideas can be laid at the feet of Strabo, who knew Italy (and Georgia, where he correctly deduced the voyage of the original Argo), but didn't know Greece at all and so moved much of the action of the Odyssey to places that he knew. The fact that some of his theories were taken seriously at all shows how the field of archaeology quite often can allow itself to be led in circles.
Severin starts out with a simple theorem - if I was Odysseus, how would I travel home from Troy? With that in mind, he proceeds along the coast of Greece, using the poem as a guide. Severin explains that in Ancient Greece, galleys proceeded at slow pace, and only when weather conditions were favourable. Severin also shows us that while the course of the Odyssey takes ten years to return to Ithaca, the actual sailing part of the story could be completed in one season. He then posits that the Odyssey is a conglomeration of many sailors stories turned into a narrative. Severin constantly discovers as he sails that much of the Odyssey that refers to the techniques and realities of sailing a Bronze Age galley is surprisingly accurate.
Some of the descriptions of localities are very accurate as well, and Severin discovers plausible sites for the lair of Scylla and the Cyclops, the island of Circe and of the Laestrygonians. He backs his theories with descriptions from Homer, and explaining how the sailing times would match from previous waypoints, and also on many occasions explaining how local legends have been used by Homer (the Cyclops a case in point), which also help to pinpoint locations.
The Ulysses Voyage reminds the reader to be wary of both complicated explanations for myths, and of putting current thinking onto the past. Greek galleys did not sail as far or as fast as later ships, for example - sailing stages of hundreds of miles simply weren't plausible for these vessels, and so some of the wilder theories could be fairly easily discounted. Likewise, deciding that a place must be part of the story, and then trying to bend reality to fit is not a way forward - Severin is very careful to try and not do this, which means that the island of Ogygia remains elusive. After all, the Odyssey is a poem, and not strict geography.
I found this book very enjoyable - it's easy to read, and neatly blends Severin's voyage with the ancient poem, and brings new light to the voyage of the wily Odysseus, and reaffirms his good sense (most of the time). If you are a fan of Homer (and if you aren't, you should be!), this is well worth reading.
Check out my other reviews at http://aviewoverthebell.blogspot.com.au/
February 10, 2025
I read this book alongside my kids learning about Ancient Greece for history. As my 8-year-old read aloud a book on Troy, she asked me "Is this real?"
I'd never really thought about whether the Odyssey was real or not. I suppose I always assumed it was a legend based in reality but then blown far out of proportion.
Severin's investigation of Odysseus's voyage was fascinating and fairly convincing (and proved my assumption about the reality of the journey correct, for the most part). Some of his hypotheses are more convincing than others, but seeing the way geography and local legend coincided were uncanny at times.
As with all of Severin's books, I really enjoyed the read. However, this one was somewhat less enjoyable because they built the boat for the Jason voyage, so there was no time spent on making the boat historically accurate, something I always love reading about. I was also disappointed that he didn't try to find out what the Sirens were or could have been - one of the things I was most curious about. An enjoyable read nonetheless, but not as much a favorite as his others.
I'd never really thought about whether the Odyssey was real or not. I suppose I always assumed it was a legend based in reality but then blown far out of proportion.
Severin's investigation of Odysseus's voyage was fascinating and fairly convincing (and proved my assumption about the reality of the journey correct, for the most part). Some of his hypotheses are more convincing than others, but seeing the way geography and local legend coincided were uncanny at times.
As with all of Severin's books, I really enjoyed the read. However, this one was somewhat less enjoyable because they built the boat for the Jason voyage, so there was no time spent on making the boat historically accurate, something I always love reading about. I was also disappointed that he didn't try to find out what the Sirens were or could have been - one of the things I was most curious about. An enjoyable read nonetheless, but not as much a favorite as his others.
April 15, 2019
I enjoyed this book, well-written and exciting to read, as well as sheds common-sense light on the possible places mentioned in the saga, stating that the west coast/islands of Greece are far more likely candidates than places further west, as later writers, including Strabo, say they were located. To support his view further he could have mentioned that apparently Homer writes that Odysseus (Ulysses) did actually visit the oracle of Zeus at Dodona, in northwestern Greece, so this area, and presumably its coast, was indeed part of the known world at the time.
September 3, 2021
Re-reading from my shelves. Such a delight this book. The search for a feasible sea-route for Odysseus travelling back to Ithaca from Troy is based on a real life voyage with a boat made to an ancient design. Severin does not try and prove a theory but rather examines the work of Homer, previous historians' theories, his own knowledge of sailing a bronze age galley, maritime maps and local legends. This is not, cannot be, a definite answer to the questions about Odysseus' voyage but provides a lot of useful thinking matter and some great photography.
August 29, 2024
Really interesting book using exploratory archaeology to map out the Odyssey. I wasn't sure initially what to expect, but found it really interesting and something quite different, it is a historical retelling with the added element of retracing the steps. At times some of the phrasing is difficult and there can be an element of repetition, but overall a really impressive and unique way to explore history!
October 31, 2021
Glorious stuff. I will come back and write more about why I loved this book so much. I will take great pleasure in re-reading it, savouring it, enjoying its wealth and perfection before adding specifics to what will be a blindingly glowing review. I love this book.
February 6, 2024
Overall, a fun read alongside teaching the Odyssey this year. I appreciate the sort of people who will have a bronze era wooden boat built and then adventure around the Mediterranean to try to recreate Odysseus’ voyage.
March 19, 2018
Got a bit bored. I enjoyed the first Greek sailing book by Mr. Severin but got bogged down at some point by the sameness of it all.
March 1, 2019
Very good retelling of the Odysseus epic voyage with a very plausible solution to where it actually was.
June 9, 2024
A reenactment of the voyages of Ulysses, with a recreated galley ship and crew. Their goal is to determine the original path. Quite enlightening.
March 15, 2014
This is a last of the four books Tim Severin has written on the subject of sailing adventures using reconstructed historic sailing craft. This one is very different in character from the other three. First, because it does not concern with the building of the craft (since the boat used was build in preparation to the previous adventure - the one described in "The voyage of Argo). Second, whereas the other books talks at length about the depredations of the actual voyages, this one only touches upon the actual voyage in a few sentences here and there instead being mostly concerned with Tim Severin's theory about the route Odysseus took on his way back home from the Trojan war. The theory, in a nutshell, is that Odysseus, being a late bronze age navigator, was a real person, who took a real route, the logical route to take: one that brought them from the shores of Troy back to Ithaca by the shortest path (give or take), with prominent landmarks along the route identified as the magical and mysterious points and creatures described in the Odyssey. This is very different with the usual interpretation of the Odyssey which makes Odysseus zig and zag all around the Mediterranean. Even if not true in all the details, the theory is a fascinating one, and well explained. Some of the writing is a bit melodramatic though: so, Severin is looking for a place where the Sun God kept his cattle, somewhere in the whereabouts of Ithaca. The name of the island must have had something to do with the number three (in particular, with a trident). One look at the map of the Ionic is sufficient in order to see that the island Meganisi looks very much like a trident (and this similarity must have been obvious to the author), yet he must have heard the name of the island from one of the locals. Also, the theory breaks down twice: first after the meeting with the Laestrygonians (where Severin's Odysseus suddenly jumps from the southern part of Peloponnese all the way to the Northernmost part of Lefkas) and second time, when, having experienced a shipwreck a day's sail from Ithaca, he ends on the Calypso island from which he is forced to sail back for over 2 weeks to end up, again, in the nearabouts of Ithaca. These sudden breaks in continuity are explained away as being later additions to the original epic. The fact that these parts of the narratives do not fit the chosen hypothesis do not seem to be sufficient in order to make them into later additions: some kind of textual (and, perhaps, linguistic) justification is required to back this up, yet none is provided (therefore, one is forced to ask, what makes the author think there weren't any later additions to the earlier parts of the route). Nevertheless, the book is extremely entertaining and I highly recommend it, as well as the other 3 books of the series.
April 27, 2024
This is a rich, interesting and well researched investigation of Homer's Odyssey undertaken by Tim Severin and his sailing crew in the early 1980s. On this journey they sail a replica of a Bronze Age Greek galley along the route taken by Ulysses during his return to Ithaca after the Trojan War. Their objective is to identify the locations where the events described in the Odyssey took place and to further examine the events themselves.
Severin is cognizant of the many and diverse site locations that have been proposed over the last 2500 years by writers and researchers of the Odyssey. However, none of these people ever attempted to re-enact the voyage. The replication of the voyage by Severin, in a Bronze Age sailing vessel, gives him a unique familiarity with the weather, winds, currents, shoals, shoreline topography and anchorages mentioned in the Odyssey. It also facilitates his investigations with local inhabitants about their locale and specific geographic features, place names, historic sites, legends and folklore. The resulting combination of information enables Severin to authoritatively pinpoint all of the locations described in the Odyssey and to interpret the related legends in a measured, facts-based and convincing manner. There is much to like about this book. The research is very professional and Severin's findings are logical and rock solid. Overall, it's a very impressive work.
Severin is cognizant of the many and diverse site locations that have been proposed over the last 2500 years by writers and researchers of the Odyssey. However, none of these people ever attempted to re-enact the voyage. The replication of the voyage by Severin, in a Bronze Age sailing vessel, gives him a unique familiarity with the weather, winds, currents, shoals, shoreline topography and anchorages mentioned in the Odyssey. It also facilitates his investigations with local inhabitants about their locale and specific geographic features, place names, historic sites, legends and folklore. The resulting combination of information enables Severin to authoritatively pinpoint all of the locations described in the Odyssey and to interpret the related legends in a measured, facts-based and convincing manner. There is much to like about this book. The research is very professional and Severin's findings are logical and rock solid. Overall, it's a very impressive work.
March 8, 2017
The Ulysses Voyage is the non-fiction chronical of modern adventurer, Tim Severin’s journey in search of real locations that might have inspired the classic epic tale, The Odyssey.
Comments: Last year, I read watched a documentary about Severin’s voyage across the Atlantic to prove the possibility that St. Brendan had managed to sail his leather boat all the way from Ireland to North America. I was intrigued by this crazy Brit’s goal, so I found the book he wrote about the experience and gave it a shot. I loved the book, so this year, I got two more of his books from the library.
I didn’t like The Ulysses Voyage as much as I had liked The Brendan Voyage. The Ulysses Voyage is a much shorter book than Brendan. There are more and bigger pictures, there are no explanations of the process of building the boat (the boat they used, the Argo, had been built for a previous voyage), and I didn’t feel the same sense of journey that I had felt when I read Brendan.
Don’t get me wrong, The Ulysses Voyage is a truly wonderful book that I would highly recommend, but The Brendan Voyage is still my favorite non-fiction book from Severin.
Comments: Last year, I read watched a documentary about Severin’s voyage across the Atlantic to prove the possibility that St. Brendan had managed to sail his leather boat all the way from Ireland to North America. I was intrigued by this crazy Brit’s goal, so I found the book he wrote about the experience and gave it a shot. I loved the book, so this year, I got two more of his books from the library.
I didn’t like The Ulysses Voyage as much as I had liked The Brendan Voyage. The Ulysses Voyage is a much shorter book than Brendan. There are more and bigger pictures, there are no explanations of the process of building the boat (the boat they used, the Argo, had been built for a previous voyage), and I didn’t feel the same sense of journey that I had felt when I read Brendan.
Don’t get me wrong, The Ulysses Voyage is a truly wonderful book that I would highly recommend, but The Brendan Voyage is still my favorite non-fiction book from Severin.
January 25, 2015
Ако очаквате напрегнат динамичен разказ, изпълнен с превратности и приключения в морето, може би ще останете малко разочаровани. "Пътешествието "Одисей" е една красива съвременна морска приказка по следите на странстванията на митичния герой, в която истината и въображението се преплитат по завладяващ и чудесен начин.
Ревю в "Аз чета"
Ревю в "Аз чета"
September 24, 2011
Yet another winner from Tim Severin. This time he recreates the wanderings of Ulysses (Odysseus) and tries to link modern-day geography with Homer's ancient saga. As i've said earlier, if you like this kind of journalism, you've love Severin's approach. Great photgraphs and maps, too.
May 4, 2014
I read this while travelling in Greece which meant that the geography meant more to me. I really like the concepts behind Tim Severins books where he literally walks in the shoes of his subject and in this way he is able to discover more than armchair historians.
January 24, 2011
A must for fans of the Odyssey. Tim recreates the voyage of Ulysses in a re-created Bronze age galley.
This is a great example of practicle arhaeology.
This is a great example of practicle arhaeology.
September 24, 2013
Not as good as brendan!
March 10, 2016
Severin creates a factual, logical and compelling argument to determine the most probable course of the voyage of Ulysses, over turning existing theories. Illuminating, and overdue!
April 11, 2017
Following Ulysses
Very well written and historical view of the Ulysses voyage from Troy to Ithaca! There is more in this account of critical writings that show Ulysses going far afield in his wanderings which the author disclaims.
Very well written and historical view of the Ulysses voyage from Troy to Ithaca! There is more in this account of critical writings that show Ulysses going far afield in his wanderings which the author disclaims.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews