MEET THE AUTHOR

In his debut novel, Wanderings, Aleksandar Bajić from Johannesburg retells the classic story of King Odysseus and Queen Penelope, using Homer’s Odyssey as inspiration.

When did you first read the story of Odysseus and his long journey home? I became familiar with the basic outline of the story as a child, but I only read it properly as an adult. That was when I was struck by its depth and complexity.

What made you decide to retell this classic story? I started wondering what Penelope might have been going through during Odysseus’s voyage, and decided to write a version of the Odyssey that would describe his and her experiences. For each chapter about Odysseus, there is one about Penelope.

How did you approach your research? I revisited the Odyssey, and Homer’s other famous work, the Iliad. I also read several reference books about the Odyssey and about life and customs in ancient Greece. I found some fascinating information, like the fact that women in ancient Greece used make-up, and that people were buried with gold so they could pay their way to Hades in the underworld.

Was it a challenge to conjure the world of 1200 BC? I used Homer and the reference books as my guides, so it wasn’t too difficult. In some cases, I had to preserve details relating to the ancient world. For example, the unit for measuring length back then was a cubit, not a metre. Also, no purchase involved money – gold was used instead. In terms of bringing the characters to life, I tried to imagine the person behind the mythical identity. Odysseus might be a great warrior, but in moments of crisis I have him question his reputation for bravery, and his military skills. Likewise, Penelope is a faithful wife, but after years of struggling without her husband, she begins to find her waiting meaningless. In modern terms, any man who feels that his handle on things is slipping can identify with Odysseus; any woman feeling that she has to shoulder the responsibility for raising a family alone can identify with Penelope.

Why did you choose the title Wanderings? Odysseus and Penelope roam through uncharted territory and sometimes feel lost. The only thing that gives them hope is the vision of the life they had together.

Which encounters during Odysseus’s long journey home do you find most interesting? His encounters with the Cyclops and the nymph, Calypso. My interpretation of Odysseus’s encounter with the Cyclops has to do with the cave as a symbol of the psyche: The Cyclops takes Odysseus through a cave on a perilous journey of spiritual discovery. The encounter between Odysseus and Calypso turns into a stalemate. Because she’s in love with him, Calypso becomes his emotional prisoner. When she refuses to let him leave her island and go home, he becomes her prisoner in a more literal sense.

Who do you think will enjoy your book? Anyone who is interested in stories about people going through a crisis. Those who study ancient Greek literature and mythology will also hopefully find the novel helpful when interpreting their subject matter. The dilemma of human existence is something anyone can relate to, and that there is no let-up, whether it’s 1200 BC in Greece or 2019 in South Africa.

Which three characters in the book are your favourite? Odysseus, Penelope and Laodocus. Odysseus is a hero who gradually loses the tools that heroes are supposed to possess: ships, men under arms, confidence. Penelope is a sensual beauty to the young men who try to woo her. Nobody knows that her emotional state is fragile and that she needs support. The difference between Penelope’s attractive exterior and vulnerable inner life is fascinating to me. Laodocus the slave is maybe the most noble person in the novel. He gives Penelope everything yet demands nothing in return. His generosity makes him my favourite.

What is your current writing project? I’m working on a story about contemporary South African life. The heroine is forced into doing something she despises. The book is about her struggle to become somebody she can live with.

Wanderings is published by Porcupine Press and costs R250 in bookstores.