Omeros

Not a collection of poetry, but an epic novel in verse. It must take some confidence, on the part of an author, to write consciously in the tradition of Homer, Virgil, Dante and Milton, but that is exactly what Walcott does here, continuing a conversation that began more than 2000 years ago, and bringing the New World into this conversation. There are echoes of James Joyce’s “Ulysses” in the way in which Walcott incorporates the everyday lives of ordinary people into his narrative (much of the story centres around the St Lucian fishermen, Hector and Achille, rivals in love for a housemaid named Helen; and around a pig-farmer named Dennis Plunkett, a former soldier who regrets the passing of the British Empire), but Walcott and his characters also meditate on the history of their homelands, with reflections on the Transatlantic slave-trade, the 18th Century battle for the Caribbean between Britain & France; and the treatment of native peoples in North America. Most of the narrative is written in hexameter (with some passages in pentameter), but rhyme is used only sporadically, giving this poetic narrative a surprisingly modern feel. The characters and the landscape leap off the pages of this gloriously crafted work, which deserves to endure for as long as the works that inspired it.

Absolutely delightful to read again and discover much autobiographical St Lucia content - now I can see this as the sequel volume of autobiography of which "Another Life" was the first (for "Another Life" I recommend Edward Baugh's Annotated edition, which for me became the key to Walcott). For example, Omeros Chapter 32 is a moving tribute to his mother . . "frail as a swift, gripping the verandah . . it was another country . . . I knew but could not connect with my mind, like my mother's amnesia; untranslatable answers . . ." Somehow I think that these epic poems should be read as two volumes of one work, one life, the life of Derek Walcott.

An amazing narrative with such depth and beauty. It is impossible to convey in this review how much I enjoyed reading Walcott's 'Omeros' and how much I look forward to future re-reads of the work. The faber edition is, as always, lovely. I was propelled to read more of Walcott following his death earlier this year and this certainly did not disappoint. Easily recommended for the classicist, poet or keen reader.

I don't really read a lot of poetry as I don't particularly like it, however Omeros is very good and the prose is lovely. I think it is unfair to compare Omeros with the Aeneid, for example, and completely dismiss it, because this book provides a very modern and multicultural twist to an old classic and it does it well! Literature changes. This is a modern classic for a modern audience.

lyrical

Amazing read, definitely worth it for anyone interested in Classics or more recent history. Fantastic take on the oldest form of poetry

all good

I called the poem epic, because that is of course what Walcott is aiming at. I called it 'dreary' because that is how I found it. How on earth can one draw a comparison between this, and Virgil's 'Aeneid'; Homer's 'Odyssey'; and Milton's 'Paradise Lost'?Actually one CAN draw a comparison, because Omeros draws on all the devices OF epic tradition: journey, 'battle', reference to the past, hubris (in a changed sense) and probably many more which I didn't pick up on. I'm sure that as a modern 'instance' of epic, Walcott ticks all the boxes with his poem, and if you're disposed to trawl through it you may appreciate his artistry.My problem with Omeros is that I found it terrifically dull (with the small exception of the play of 'the Gods' as a metaphor for a storm). And especially so, by comparison with the epics it is supposed to follow in the line of.My expectation is if you love the 'Odyssey' and the 'Aeneid', you probably won't think much of this, but if you worship and adore Milton, you may find 'Omeros' satisfying.