Poetry sales in the UK are set to reach a record high this year, having surpassed £8m during the first 30 weeks of 2026. This represents a 13.3% increase compared to the same period last year, according to market researchers NielsenIQ.
The surge in sales is attributed to the popularity of Christopher Nolan's film, The Odyssey. Tommy Maddinson, 26, from London, stated he was inspired by the film to delve into classics, including reading Homer's epic before its release.
Similarly, Robert Zoellner, 70, decided to try Greek classics after seeing the film, finding Emily Wilson's translations enjoyable. Kerry Lecomber, 56, from Suffolk, has seen The Odyssey three times and is now considering studying classics at the Open University.
A comparable trend is evident in the US, where print sales of The Odyssey across all editions have increased by 76% so far this year, according to Circana BookScan figures. Emily Wilson's translation, published by WW Norton, is the bestselling edition.
Kaylee Brent, 32, from Montana, watched the film due to criticism surrounding it and was convinced by the critiques to read The Odyssey and The Iliad. Emily Hughes, 33, from Cheltenham, reread The Odyssey (Emily Wilson's translation) before the film and felt inspired to explore more female characters in literature afterwards, picking up Claire North's Ithaca.