It seems faintly ridiculous to declare that Greek mythology is having a moment, given that these ancient stories have inspired and moved us for thousands of years. But it is certainly experiencing heightened interest this summer – thanks to Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster film adaptation of The Odyssey, sales of Homer’s 2,700-year-old epic have rocketed.
Once you’re finished reading that original poem, there are plenty of contemporary retellings of the classics to add to your reading pile, from smouldering queer love stories to psychological thrillers to feminist reframings. These are the 12 best.
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
You wouldn’t necessarily know unless someone told you before reading it that An American Marriage is, as Jones has put it, in conversation with The Odyssey. The Women’s Prize-winning novel is a heartfelt page-turner about wrongful imprisonment and race, as the lives of newlyweds Roy and Celestial are ripped apart when he is convicted of a crime he did not commit.
But with its portrayal of a man forced to live away from his home and his wife, the impact this has on their marriage and what happens when he suddenly does come back, it’s a clear successor to the Homer story – a gripping and emotionally rich update for the present day.
