Christopher Nolan's 'Odyssée' Sparks Fivefold Surge in Hebrew Book Sales in Israel

The release of Christopher Nolan's new film "Odyssée" has significantly boosted sales of the Hebrew translation of Homer's epic poem "The Odyssey" in Israel. Published by Magnes, the book saw a fivefold increase in sales through the publisher's website in July compared to June, with bookstores nationwide reporting repeated large orders to meet growing demand. The Hebrew prose translation by Avraham Arouti is praised for its faithful and accessible rendition, which has also driven increased sales of Homer's other epic, "The Iliad."

"The Odyssey," attributed to the ancient Greek poet Homer and likely composed in the 8th century BCE, narrates the ten-year journey of Odysseus returning home from the Trojan War, facing monsters, gods, and temptations while his wife Penelope and son Telemachus await his return. Nolan's film adaptation, starring Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Charlize Theron, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o, and John Bernthal, has become both a box office and critical hit, with some predicting it may earn Nolan another Oscar.

The film's success has also been felt internationally, with reported increases in book sales and audiobook listens in the UK, France, and the US. Spotify data shows a 500% spike in listens to "The Odyssey" audiobook on the film's release day, with the work particularly popular among Gen Z and millennial listeners, two-thirds of whom are male. Additionally, interest in learning Greek surged by 5,000% in two weeks according to Google Trends.

However, the film has faced criticism from some classical scholars. Emily Wilson, the first woman to translate "The Odyssey" into English verse, described Nolan's adaptation as grandiose but shallow, lacking psychological, emotional, political, and ethical depth. She noted the film's narrative gimmicks and underdeveloped characters but acknowledged its cultural significance in reviving interest in ancient Greek literature and encouraging public engagement with classical texts.

Overall, Nolan's "Odyssée" has not only captivated cinema audiences but also revitalized interest in one of Western literature's foundational works, influencing book sales, audiobook consumption, and even academic pursuits related to Greek language and literature.