The Lost Books of the Odyssey isn’t just one retelling of the Trojan War, but more than forty, told in short vignettes that reshape Odysseus’ story over and over again. Mason is clearly well-versed in the traditions of Homeric scholarship and more obscure ancient variants, but you don’t need to be a scholar to appreciate his clever storytelling. 

The chapters of the Lost Books explore a wide variety of what-ifs. What if Penelope did remarry while Odysseus was gone? What if the great warrior Achilles was actually a clay golem? What if the Iliad was actually an ancient chess manual? It’s easy to forget that Homer’s is only one version of the Trojan War, and that numerous others would have circulated in ancient times. But Mason’s repeated reinvention demonstrates the mutability of these familiar characters and their stories time and again. 

You may like some chapters more than others, but this mesmerizing book brilliantly illuminates the boundless potential of these timeless tales and the joy we can take in reinventing them. Dazzling in its scope and thoughtful in its engagement with classical traditions, The Lost Books is unlike any other interpretation of Homer’s treasured epics. 

This book may be more suitable for older readers, not because of explicit violent or sexual content, but because of the mature level of the storytelling. While Mason’s deep engagement with traditions of Homeric transmission and scattered footnotes provide a rich reading experience for academics, his writing style remains accessible, and the premise will be equally interesting for more casual readers. Though it’s much easier to get ahold of the 2010 edition, the earlier 2007 edition is worth trying to find for its lengthier prologue, which adds a fascinating layer to the text, and two additional vignettes. 

All in all, this unique take on the Epic Cycle and its associated Trojan War myths is a delightful exploration of classical myth and a profound reflection on the endless possibilities that innovative retelling can offer even the oldest of stories. -Mallory Fitzpatrick