The Iliad & The Odyssey

By: Homer

Narrated by: John Lescault

Length: 28 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

Little is known about the Ancient Greek oral poet Homer, the supposed 8th century BC author of the world-read Iliad and his later masterpiece, The Odyssey. These classic epics provided the basis for Greek education and culture throughout the classical age and formed the backbone of humane education through the birth of the Roman Empire and the spread of Christianity. If Homer did in fact exist, this supposedly blind poet was from some region of Greek-controlled Asia-Minor and recited his poems at festivals and political assemblies. In this extraordinary two volume audio set, the glorious saga again unfolds, telling the story of courage and magical adventure in Ancient Greece.

The Iliad, the first of Homer's epic poems, tells of the counsel of Nestor, Achilles's slaying of Hector, and the defeat of the Trojans by the Greeks.

In The Odyssey, in his perilous journey home after the Trojan War, Odysseus must pass through the land of the Cyclopes, encounter Circe the Enchantress, and face the terrible Charybdis and the six headed serpent Scylla.

Both epics are translated here by Samuel Butler.

(P)2002 Commuters Library

great performance

This story could only be narrated by some one like Lescault. He was able to bring the character to life and make the story enjoyable and elegant in every sense of the word.
I only wish to have as many good reader as this man to creat a link between and the glorious past.

Best Translation. Uses Greek names.

Great reading. Appropriate Greek Translation. Slow reader, so I listened at 1.15x. The story is great, of course.

Essential

There is a reason these books have survived to the modern age. There is a reason that schools require you to read this or people recommend. Yes it is a very different thing to read these books in the modern age and especially through translation but these books are still amazing stories for the time.

Incredible

A must read even if you read it before when younger. Brings one back 2700 years ago and gets inside the mind of those (albeit nobility) who lived then.

Did Homer say this?

First I laughed at the term bit the dust as the opponents died. Today I heard about the hullabaloo caused by arguing and weeping. The translator must have been trying to dumb the material down.

2 books not fair to judge together

The Illiad is much like reading the Bible (in style not content). Much like so and so beget so and so for pages and pages, the Illiad goes on in infinite detail naming every character so and so son of so and so then telling in gory detail how the spear pierced his liver or bowels etc. Tedious.

I underestand style changes in storytelling over millenia, but somethings cannot be explained by style. What reason would there be for starting the story 9 YEARS into the war, with Achilles refusing to fight with no explanation of who he is or how he is viewed by the others, only a short explanation of how and why the war began.

The Odyssey is quite good. Hard to imagine it is the same author.

Great, in every way

A completely extraordinary work of art, stunningly, translated, and beautifully read. Just as good as it could be. My father was one of the foremost Greek translators of his day, and he thought Butler had done as good of a job as could be done for a work that he thought in someways was not translatable. I love this version.

Listening is the best way to experience this story

I could never get through the Iliad in school! It was simply too thick with unique names and places and colorful description. But to listen to the story told was marvelous! This story was meant to be spoken. Thanks to Audible I finally have had the joy of experiencing Homer.

Must Read

The Iliad was pretty slow but got better in the last quarter. The Odyssey was a much better part of the story and I spend through it.

Abridged is for classrooms... +++++

Rate of delivery, voice and inflection were very good. My teenage sons listened along with me and were riveted. Thank you for this narration.