Homer Haunted

This is the story of how two ancient epics—the Iliad and the Odyssey—captured the world's imagination.

Henry Power takes us on a surprising journey through the afterlives of these mysterious songs of war and exile, first sung thousands of years ago by a poet who may never have existed.

Travelling from the islands of Greece to the Scottish Highlands, Devon coast, and suburban Los Angeles, he traces the footsteps of poets, politicians, lunatics, and lovers haunted by mythical heroes and monsters.

Boldly original and heartfelt, it is an epic account of how our oldest stories shape the way we read, write, and think.