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Rearview Mirror Chronicles
Keith Hockton, FRAS, is a writer, publisher, and award-winning podcaster based in Penang, Malaysia, with a deep passion for uncovering the stories that shaped our world. As the Southeast Asia Editor for International Living magazine, Keith explores the intersections of history, culture, and modern life across the region.
A dynamic lecturer and storyteller, he speaks internationally on Southeast Asian politics, economics, and history—bringing the past to life with clarity, wit, and insight. Keith is also a proud Fellow of The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland and is on a mission to make history not only accessible but genuinely entertaining for everyone.
His published books include:
• Atlas of Australian Dive Sites - Travellers Edition (Harper Collins Australia, 2003).
• Penang - An inside guide to its historic homes, buildings, monuments and parks (MPH Publishing, 2012; 2nd Edition 2014; 3rd Edition 2017).
• Festivals of Malaysia (Trafalgar Publishing, 2015).
• The Habitat Penang Hill: A pocket history (Entrepot Publishing, 2018)
• Alana and the Secret Life of Trees at Night (Entrepot Publishing, 2018)
• Penang Then & Now: A Century of Change in Pictures (Entrepot Publishing, 2019; 2nd Edition 2021
• Bersama Lima - Five Together (Entrepot Publishing, 2022)
www.entrepotpublishing.com
Rearview Mirror Chronicles
The Odyssey Explained: Why Homer's Epic Still Matters
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
For nearly three thousand years, Homer's Odyssey has captivated audiences with its unforgettable monsters, legendary heroes, and epic adventures. But beneath the Cyclops, the Sirens, and the wrath of the gods lies a far deeper story—one about family, loyalty, temptation, pride, and the universal longing to return home.
In this episode of Rearview Mirror Chronicles, Keith Hockton takes you on an extraordinary journey through one of history's greatest masterpieces, revealing why The Odyssey became the blueprint for countless stories that followed, from The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars to modern cinema. Along the way, you'll discover the hidden meanings behind Odysseus's trials, the remarkable intelligence of Penelope, the tragic misunderstandings surrounding Calypso, and how centuries of translation have subtly reshaped the women of both Greek mythology and the Bible.
This isn't simply the story of a hero battling monsters. It's the story that taught the Western world how to tell stories, and why, after 3,000 years, Homer's timeless masterpiece still speaks directly to us today.
For books written and published by Keith Hocton