The Independent Press Top 40 Bestsellers: Nonfiction

The book Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea: Journeys Through Ancient Literature by Emily Wilson explores themes from ancient Greek and Roman texts.

The wine-dark sea refers to Homer’s Odyssey, where this phrase describes the Mediterranean Sea, highlighting its deep blue color.

Wilson, a classicist and translator, examines how ancient stories like the Odyssey and Aeneid reflect human experiences such as adventure, identity, and cultural exchange.

The book is published by Liveright, an imprint of W.W.

Norton & Company, known for academic and literary nonfiction.

Wilson’s work bridges modern readers and ancient narratives, making classical literature more accessible by analyzing recurring motifs like journeys and fate.