The “Odyssey” has been an undeniable classic of literature throughout history, being translated into several languages and by different authors; One of the most important editions was that made by T.E. Lawrence. Between 1928 and 1932, this British soldier and scholar translated Homer's work while serving as an RAF mechanic in Karachi and Plymouth while dealing with personal issues such as privacy, fame, family loss, uncertainty, and his state of mind after the war and the Paris Conference. Precisely, these aspects made his life and writings difficult, even this work that seemed like a simple translation. From the above, this question arises: How did traumas and war experience influence this literary project? The hypothesis contemplates two aspects: on the one hand, Lawrence's struggle to include new archaeological knowledge based on his experiences prior to WWI and on the other hand, the reinterpretation and demystification of the characters and the narrator, especially Odysseus, who is no longer seen as a hero by the translator. Through the analysis of the published work and the letters written by Lawrence, we can deduce his perspective towards the text, his emotional state and his concerns. It can be concluded that despite this change of vision towards “Odyssey”, this was not reflected in the final translation and was only mentioned in the prologue, but it is an important precedent in the reinterpretation of classical culture after World War I and whose climax was the publication of “I, Claudius” in 1934.

Authors:
Daniela Beltrán, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Chile

About the Presenter(s)
Miss Daniela Beltrán is currently an Phd. in History student at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso. She researchs about the Salesian Congregation, and about T.E. Lawrence. Since 2022, she's a member of T.E. Lawrence Society.

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