The Iliad of Homer

By: Elizabeth Vandiver, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Elizabeth Vandiver

For thousands of years, Homer's ancient epic poem the Iliad has enchanted readers from around the world. When you join Professor Vandiver for this lecture series on the Iliad, you'll come to understand what has enthralled and gripped so many people.

Her compelling 12-lecture look at this literary masterpiece - whether it's the work of many authors or the "vision" of a single blind poet - makes it vividly clear why, after almost 3,000 years, the Iliad remains not only among the greatest adventure stories ever told but also one of the most compelling meditations on the human condition ever written.

As you'll learn, the grandeur and immediacy of Homer's world would seem to defy time and space. Throughout these lectures, you'll explore this legendary era in brilliant, unforgettable hues. You'll meet its towering heroes who thirst for honor and the gods who inspired and instigated them. You'll go deep inside the shattering battles at Troy that act out mankind's awesome passions for glory, love, and vengeance. But more than that, you'll focus on the timeless human issues this masterpiece raises, all of them evoked by the power of a single dramatic question: Why does Achilles rage? The limits of freedom, the common humanity we share, the line between justice and revenge, the nature of destiny, the meaning of life - Professor Vandiver uses the Iliad as a potent lens through which to study them all.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©1999 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)1999 The Great Courses

Excellent course!

What did you love best about The Iliad of Homer?

We are a homeschool family and decided to listen to this course as we studied The Iliad. The lessons greatly enhanced our learning and enriched our study of this great book. Professor Vandiver is a dynamic speaker who gives interesting lectures.

they're called great courses for a reason 😉

they're called great courses for a reason 😉. great companion lecture series to the book, I used the Fitzgerald translation

Excellent

Professor Vandiver is passionate about her subject. She is concise, critical, and refreshing; she somehow makes a workable review of an immense topic in a short period of time

excellent

excellenr resource for anyone interested in the Iliad. Vandiver’s lectures are informative, interesting, and highlight the epic’s greatness. I wish this had been available when I studied The Iliad in school.

great lecture

I loved this course. professor was cool and knowledgeable and info was easy to follow

not what I expected but very good

I never really knew who Homer was or The Iliad was about. excellent job of the history of Homer in the history of the book along with the story I was very impressed

Perfect companion to any edition of The Iliad

This is the perfect companion to reading The Iliad regardless of translation. Professor Vandiver’s course gives us an extensive analysis of the epic.

Fantastic!!!

--Elizabeth Vandiver's classroom teaching honed her great knowledge into a skilled delivery; because she knew what aspects of the myths students will need additional explanation to understand. The intonations of her great voice showed that she was mentally processing the words, not merely reading words. Her Lecture Guide pdf was vividly clear, and the right length.

--Her course on the Illiad is equally great. Both are about 6 hours. She probably knows enough to have made them each 60 hours. So her courses were honed down to the content that is the most useful and interesting.

--Elizabeth Vandiver has several other Great Courses. I have downloaded one, and will probably listen to most of them.

Excellent

I have tried to read the Iliad but it is tough going. This course was so illuminating. Professor Vandiver is excellent in all her courses I think. She keeps your interest and has a great speaking voice and manner. The pace is excellent and as the listener you tend to keep up with the lecture as it is not boring at all.
I highly recommend this book, also any of Professor Vandivers courses.

A Great Course for a Great Classic

What about Professor Elizabeth Vandiver’s performance did you like?

Professor Elizabeth Vandiver is quickly becoming one of my favorite professors available through the Great Courses. She knows how to provide the structure the material deserves, while keeping it accessible.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I wanted to, but my schedule dictated that I listen to it one lecture at a time.

Any additional comments?

If you're getting this, get The Odyssey of Homer (same Professor), it paints the full picture of the Greek Epics.