Based on: Katarzyna Marciniak, Elżbieta Olechowska, Joanna Kłos, Michał Kucharski (eds.), Polish Literature for Children & Young Adults Inspired by Classical Antiquity: A Catalogue, Faculty of “Artes Liberales”, Warsaw: University of Warsaw, 2013, 444 pp.

The adaptation covers the events in the Odyssey. The sequence of chapters corresponds to the Odyssey as follows:

Odysseus’ Adventures  —  Odyssey 

Chapter one  —   book IX
Chapter two  —  book X
Chapter three  —  books XI–XXII
Chapter four  —  book XXII
Chapter five  —  books I–IV
Chapter six  —  books V–VIII
Chapter seven  —  books VI-VIII
Chapter eight  —  books XIII–XVII
Chapter nine  —  books XIX–XXII
Chapter ten  —  books XXIII–XXIV

The book contains many extensive quotations from the Odyssey in Lucjan Siemieński’s translation.

Parandowski’s adaptation is a quick review of the myth of Odysseus’s return from Troy, according to Homer, and was prepared for young readers to acquaint them with the story without having to read the entirety of Odyssey. As the title is: Odysseus’ Adventures, the book does not start with Telemachus’ Peloponnesian journey, though this story is briefly presented in chapter five: A House without a Master. Parandowski then manipulates the sequence of particular adventures and foregoes Homeric delays to obtain a more cohesive, linear narration adjusted to young readers. The Homeric diegetic world's complexity is not preserved because this adaptation is a compact version of the myth, in which drastic or “immoral” details are softened or removed. For example, Circe kneels before Odysseus, having been threatened by his sword, takes her spell off, and everybody feasts for the whole year – there is no mention about her inviting the hero to her alcove to confirm their union and new bond. Similarly, Parandowski “spares” the serving girls' lives on Ithaca, who were consorting with the suitors. When the suitors are dead, Odysseus orders the maidens to take out the dead bodies and clean up the place, exactly as Homer described, but then he tells them that he will deal with them later without explaining what the “dealing with” would entail.

Another adjustment is of a linguistic and stylistic nature, as the author includes lively dialogues to make the impression of dynamic action. However, the language retains some archaic vocabulary or syntactic elements imitating old-fashioned literature, although long and complex Homeric comparisons are absent. It is worth mentioning that out of respect for Homer and to show samples of the original text, Parandowski quotes the Odyssey, first, in a historical 19th century poetical translation by Siemieński. In later editions, he uses his own, prosaic one, better suited to the contemporary reader and considered the best Polish translation. This strategy familiarizes the child with Homer’s narrative style and can influence readers to reach for the original in the future. 

In later editions the illustrations based on John Flaxman’s drawings (see here, accessed: January 21, 2021) were replaced with the illustrations prepared by Parandowski’s son Zbigniew, resembling ancient Greek pottery style.

For many years, Odysseus’ Adventures was compulsory reading in school curricula for the 5th grade of elementary school, i.e., for 11-year-old children. Even though it is currently optional, it remains a valuable Odyssey’s epitome for young readers, still reprinted and widely read.

Homer, Iliada, trans. by Kazimiera Jeżewska, introd. by Jerzy Łanowski, Wrocław: Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich, 1986. 

Homer, Iliada (wybór), trans. by Franciszek Ksawery Dmochowski, Wrocław: Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich, 1985. 

Homer, Odyseja, trans. by Jan Parandowski, Warszawa: Czytelnik, 1953.

Homer, The Odyssey with an English Translation by A.T. Murray, PH.D. in two volumes, Cambridge: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, 1919. Avaliable online: 

1. Greek: perseus.tufts.edu (accessed: January 21, 2021).
2. English: perseus.tufts.edu (accessed: January 21, 2021).

"Jan Parandowski", in: Nowa Encyklopedia Powszechna, vol. 4: M–P, Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, 1996, 775.

Selected bibliography concerning Jan Parandowski’s work and life see here.

Editio princeps: illustrator unknown, illustrations based on drawings by John Flaxman (see here, accessed: January 21, 2021); 

Later editions: ill. Zbigniew Parandowski.