SynopsisChristopher Nolan's film adaptation of The Odyssey is driving increased book sales in India. Print editions of The Odyssey have seen sales more than double compared to last year. Young readers in their late teens and twenties are showing renewed interest in classic literature. Affordable paperback translations and accessible retellings are performing exceptionally well. This surge extends to Homer's Iliad and Greek mythology collections, indicating a lasting impact.AgenciesNolan's The Odyssey is driving record demand for classic literature among Indian Gen ZMumbai: “Tell the old story for our modern times” — from the opening verse of Homer’s Odyssey in Emily Wilson’s acclaimed 2018 translation — is proving to be a literal directive. As Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation marches past the ₹140 crore mark in India, it is also inspiring young readers to go back to the 3,000-year-old epic and related classics.Sales of print editions of The Odyssey crossed 6,500 copies in 2026 (through July 18), more than double the volume sold during the same period last year, according to NielsenIQ BookData India.On the ground, Mayi Gowda of Bengaluru’s Blossom Book House said demand has been increasing since Nolan’s announcement of the film in December 2024. NielsenIQ data shows sales topping 2,000 copies between June 21 and July 18, tripling from the equivalent four-week window in 2025.Read more: Christopher Nolan's dubbed films account for up to 30% of India box office collectionsThe film’s July 17 India release had an immediate impact. “In the week after the film’s release, orders for print editions grew nearly 5x compared to the pre-release period, with paperbacks driving the majority of demand,” said Rashi Bahadur, category leader for books at Amazon India.Aakash Gupta, CEO of Crossword Bookstores, said in two weeks since the film’s release, sales across its stores “have already tripled.”Young and hungryPublishers and retailers across the board highlight that the surge is driven by India’s youth and their revived interest in the classics.“What we are seeing now is readers in their late teens and twenties (buy classics), and this predates the film,” Gupta said. “For the last two years we have been watching India’s Gen Z go back to the classics on their own. Nolan’s film landed on ground that was already prepared.”Affordable paperbacks are the top performers. Penguin’s ₹499 Black Classics translation of The Odyssey by EV Rieu saw a 10x sales boost, according to Sameer Mahale, vice president sales at Penguin Random House India.It was the best-selling edition at Mumbai’s famed bookstore Kitabkhana, its chief operating officer Jagath Tekkatte said.Academic translations that cost ₹1,000-2,000 are also thriving. Robert Fagles’ version is popular with collectors at Kitabkhana and Blossom Book House while Emily Wilson’s 2018 translation, which Nolan cited as an inspiration, has sparked such high demand that Kitabkhana is currently sold out and awaiting restocks.Gowda of Blossom Book House also noted high demand for Stephen Fry’s accessible retelling.The surge isn’t limited to The Odyssey alone, readers who walk in looking for it often leave with a broader reading list. Mahale and Gupta reported a noticeable increase in demand for Homer’s Iliad as well, while Gupta said the same is true for Greek mythology collections, inspired fiction like Madeline Miller’s Circe and The Song of Achilles, and children’s mythology.“When ten year olds start asking for Greek myths through Percy Jackson, you have a reader for the next twenty years, not the next two weeks,” Gupta said.The Nolan effectMahale credited Nolan for creating a “rare crossover moment where both new and long-time readers are engaging with the text.” 2026 is emerging as a strong one for book adaptations. While Project Hail Mary and Dune “outsold expectations,” The Odyssey is “at a similar scale and possibly slightly ahead,” Gupta said.Gowda said Project Hail Mary still ranks first, but The Odyssey editions have roughly equal growth.Read More News on...moreless