Homer's Odyssey was printed many times during the eighteenth century. Along with the Iliad, it is one of the earliest surviving pieces of Western literature. It tells the story of the ten-year voyage of Odysseus, who is constantly driven off course from his return to Ithaca by a vengeful Poseidon, following the destruction of the city of Troy.

Alexander Pope was one of the foremost English poets of the early eighteenth century, accomplished in poetry, drama and satire, and also eager to achieve a poetical translation of Homer. The first edition was published by subscription over 6 years from 1715, and was highly commended by Samuel Johnson. Richard Bentley, academic and Master of Trinity College Cambridge, on the other hand, said 'It is a pretty poem, Mr. Pope, but you must not call it Homer'. Pope’s publisher Bernard Lintot was sufficiently heartened by the otherwise positive reception of the Iliad to issue the Odyssey in the same manner. However, Pope had collaborated on this translation, only actually translating 12 (out of 24) books himself, and the work was not as well received.