"Classics are classic because all of us are always living the same old stories and dynamics, always enacting the same old characters and themes," writes Daniel Mendelsohn, author of "An Odyssey," which revisits the ancient Greek epic poem.

By Elizabeth Flock

"If you think of writing as a job, as just getting the stuff out there, you’ll do a lot better than if you keep waiting for the angel of inspiration to visit," says Mendelsohn.

By Elizabeth Flock

"An Odyssey" is the story of what happens when Daniel Mendelsohn's 81-year-old father decides to sit in on his college course on the ancient Greek epic poem.

By Elizabeth Flock

"An Odyssey" is the story of what happened when Daniel Mendelsohn's 81-year-old father, Jay, enrolled in his college course on Homer's epic poem.

By Elizabeth Flock