A reading guide
Books like The Odyssey
Books like The Odyssey bring together perilous voyages, meddling gods, monsters and heroes tested far from home. This list is for readers drawn to those adventures; start with The Aeneid for another exile's search for a homeland.
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Where to start
Start hereThe AeneidVirgilMedium level · 5–10 hStart with survivors escaping Troy, then follow their search for a homeland through storms and Juno's opposition.
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Another way inSindbad the Sailor, & Other Stories from the Arabian NightsAnonymousMedium level · 2–5 hChoose this for strange islands, dangerous seas and tales where people rely on their wits as fortunes suddenly change.
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Or tryEnoch Arden, &c.Alfred, Lord TennysonMedium level · Under 2 hChoose this for a quieter story of a sailor's absence, with family love and conflicting obligations at its centre.
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The books
Free to start one of the free gifts when you start
| # | First published | Book | Kind | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 BC | The AeneidVirgilMedium level · 5–10 h Aeneas leads survivors from Troy toward a new homeland, facing storms, loss and a goddess determined to delay them. | Poems | Free to startRead free |
| 2 | 250 BC | The ArgonauticaApollonius of RhodesMedium level · 2–5 h Jason sails with Greek heroes to seek the Golden Fleece, encountering strange peoples, dangers and interference from the gods. | Poems | Free to startRead free |
| 3 | Sindbad the Sailor, & Other Stories from the Arabian NightsAnonymousMedium level · 2–5 h Sindbad crosses dangerous seas and visits strange islands in tales where magic, changing fortunes and quick wits shape survival. | Stories | Free to startRead free | |
| 4 | 750 BC | The IliadHomerMedium level · 5–10 h Achilles withdraws from the fighting at Troy, leaving his companions at risk while gods intervene on both sides. | Poems | Free to startRead free |
| 5 | Beowulf: An Anglo-Saxon Epic PoemTranslated by J. Lesslie HallMedium level · 2–5 h Beowulf, a warrior of the Geats, crosses the sea to help a Danish king. | Poems | Free to startRead free | |
| 6 | 1572 | The LusiadsLuís de CamõesChallenging · 2–5 h Sailors seeking a route around Africa to India face storms and ancient gods amid stories of Portugal's past. | Poems | Free to startRead free |
| 7 | 1851 | Moby-DickHerman MelvilleChallenging · 10–20 h Ishmael joins a whaling voyage whose captain turns the crew's work into a private pursuit of revenge. | Novel | Free to startRead free |
| 8 | 1719 | The Life and Adventures of Robinson CrusoeDaniel DefoeMedium level · 5–10 h A shipwrecked sailor uses salvaged supplies, tools and crops to build a life on an isolated island. | Novel | Free to startRead free |
| 9 | 1270 | The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga)UnknownEasy read · 2–5 h A family descended from Odin faces curses, revenge and conflicting duties, with courage and a dragon shaping its story. | Novel | Free to startRead free |
| 10 | The MabinogionAnonymousMedium level · 5–10 h Welsh rulers, lovers and warriors encounter magic, exchanges with the Otherworld and seemingly impossible tasks for Arthur's warriors. | Stories | Free to startRead free | |
| 11 | 1516 | Orlando FuriosoLodovico AriostoChallenging · Over 20 h Orlando pursues Angelica amid warring armies, while his love and approaching madness join a web of linked adventures. | Poems | Free to startRead free |
| 12 | 1469 | Le Morte DarthurThomas MaloryChallenging · Over 20 h Arthur's knights ride out on quests, rescue people in danger and seek the Holy Grail amid divided loyalties. | Novel | Free to startRead free |
| 13 | 1856 | The HeroesCharles KingsleyMedium level · 2–5 h Perseus, Jason and Theseus undertake dangerous journeys involving Medusa, the Golden Fleece and tests of courage and conduct. | Stories | Free to startRead free |
| 14 | 1864 | Enoch Arden, &c.Alfred, Lord TennysonMedium level · Under 2 h A sailor's absence strains his family's love and loyalty in poems concerned with the sea, obligation and loss. | Poems | Free to startRead free |
Questions
What are the best books like The Odyssey?
Start with The Aeneid, The Argonautica and Beowulf: An Anglo-Saxon Epic Poem for voyages, divine interference or monsters. The Aeneid follows Trojan survivors seeking a homeland, The Argonautica sends Jason after the Golden Fleece, and Beowulf: An Anglo-Saxon Epic Poem follows a warrior across the sea to confront Grendel.
Which book is closest to The Odyssey?
The Aeneid is the closest pick here for a voyage shaped by divine opposition and the search for a homeland. Aeneas travels with his father, son and other Trojan survivors toward a new homeland in Italy.
Where should I start after The Odyssey?
Start with The Aeneid if the search for a homeland is what draws you back. Choose The Argonautica instead for a crew of Greek heroes pursuing the Golden Fleece, or The Heroes for separate adventures following Perseus, Jason and Theseus through dangerous quests.
Are there shorter books like The Odyssey?
Yes, Enoch Arden, &c. offers a shorter choice at about 3 hours, with the sea and separation at its heart. Its title poem follows a sailor who leaves his wife and children, while his absence places love and loyalty under strain.
What do books like The Odyssey have in common?
The shared thread in these picks is a journey or ordeal that tests more than physical strength. Jason faces dangers and divine interference, Sindbad encounters strange islands, and Arthur's knights balance quests with loyalty. Enoch Arden, &c. turns toward the family obligations strained by a sailor's absence.
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