A famous American novelist defends Christopher Nolan and his Odyssey

After the much-noticed work of translator Emily Wilson, an immense voice in American literature is stepping up to the plate. Joyce Carol Oates denounces criticism that she considers unnecessarily aggressive.

The vision of The Odyssey by Christopher Nolan continues to make waves.

A few days after the violent criticism published by Emily Wilson, famous for her English translation of Homer’s poem, it is the novelist Joyce Carol Oates who defends the director.

On X, the American author, publicly opposed to Donald Trump and his vision of the United States, directly attacked Wilson, believing that his review went far beyond simple critical disagreement. To her, the outrageous aggression behind Wilson’s criticism sounded like a Trumpist echo:

“Rather than debating interpretations of Homer in a collegial manner, this person, who benefited enormously from Nolan’s film, speaks with the foul language of MAGA supporters when attacking someone whose ideas differ from theirs. she writes. Before adding:

“We might expect a translator, more than anyone else serving a text, to show a little more reflection and respect towards those who also work in good faith.”

A few days earlier, Emily Wilson had severely crushed the blockbuster in the London Review of Books.

If Christopher Nolan had nevertheless cited his translation of The Odyssey as a major influence for its adaptation, the specialist felt that the film lacked “psychological, emotional, political and ethical depth” and had “nothing convincing to say“She went even further in judging.”catastrophic writing. I would be ashamed to have written that“, she asserted.

A battle of arms which shows that Christopher Nolan’s latest film continues to divide an already very fractured America, even in academic and literary circles.