Christopher Nolan’s latest film is driving a massive spike in demand for Homer’s The Odyssey. Bookstores and libraries across the United States report that interest in the 2,700-year-old epic poem has soared since the movie hit theaters. Independent bookstores are struggling to keep copies in stock as new readers discover the ancient story.
Data from Circana BookScan shows print sales for the epic are up 76 percent this year. Emily Wilson’s translation is currently leading the market, with total sales for her edition surpassing one million copies. Major retail chains and independent shops alike note that customers who previously avoided the text are now seeking it out in large numbers.
Libraries are also seeing an impact. The New York Public Library recorded a 338 percent increase in requests for the book in July alone. The trend is not limited to the original text, as children’s versions and related works like Madeline Miller’s Circe are also gaining momentum.
Industry observers note that the success of the film adaptation is responsible for this shift. While some critics argue the movie lacks the emotional depth of the original, they acknowledge the director achieved the goal of returning the general public to the source material. Booksellers expect this elevated interest to continue through the fall as more audiences engage with the work.