The Odyssey

By: Homer, Robert Fagles - translator

Narrated by: Ian McKellen

Length: 13 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

The Odyssey is literature's grandest evocation of every man's journey through life. In the myths and legends that are retold here, the energy and poetry of Homer's original is captured in a bold, contemporary idiom, giving us an edition of The Odyssey that is a joy to listen to, worth savoring and treasuring for its sheer lyrical mastery.

This audiobook is sure to delight both the classicist and the general listener and to captivate a new generation of Homer's students.

(P) and ©1996 Penguin Books USA Inc.

Critic reviews

"To re-create a world where everything is living...is very nearly as difficult as to create it. Fagles does this with triumphant assurance; every arrowhead flashes lightning, every bush burns; Homer is with us." (James Dickey)

"It's a deeply satisfying experience to listen to McKellen's subtle, resonant voice weave the story. Cherish the images as the web of this great tale is woven before the eyes of the mind." (AudioFile)

A classic

One of the great literary works in the western canon. From Odysseus lashing himself to the mast to resist the sirens, to the eerily encroaching tide of the suitors, this book is full of fantastic scenes that are borne out in modern cultural interpretations galore.

Oh McKellen!!!!

His voice is like honey and thunder and velvet all rolled into one.....studied Homer at school....would have been so much better with Sir Ian reading it to me

incredible narration for a classic text

Sir Ian mckellen: there are no words. this must be what it sounded like to hear it from the old spoken word poets who carried this oral tradition. thank you.

Fantastic in every respect

Except variable audio quality. In some places the recording is muffled and there is a slight echo.

Great translation, great reading, strange audio quality

The Odyssey is a classic. There is nothing more to say in that regard. And Ian McKellan is a splendid reader. Everything I could want in an audio version of this superb translation of a great classic.

The only critique I have of this recording is that the 24 books of the work and the 24 chapters of the recording do not align for some reason, likely a remnant of pre-MP3 days. Therefore, breaks come oddly in the middle of the story, and not at the more natural conclusion of each book. No big deal, however, the audio quality varies between chapters, and McKellan's voice rises and lowers in pitch. This is strange and I wish the publisher would revisit the recording and make it smoother.

Book and reader are great, but.....

I am frustrated with audible's breaking up the books into chapters. I am reading this for a class.The assignments are given as books to be read. How am I to know where I am in the midst of the unequal chapters? ...especially as I am not going straight through this reading, but sometimes using a hard copy. I found this occurred in another book that had long chapters with many divisions. These long original chapters were broken up into numerously more chapters with no titles to guide me. I had no way of finding the section I needed to read!!! Not happy.

classic for a reason

This was a great performance of this classic story. I really enjoyed listening, My only complaint is that the voice seemed to change about half way through, which was a little distracting.

The Odyssey Was Truly Epic

Awesome book. Your emotions fall and rise with Homer’s epic poetry, filled with similes, great stories, and a truly stunning mix and mash of words. Great book! Great performance by Sir Ian McKellen.

Great story

Famous, but seldom read. Wonderful human story. The only minor flaw is that the audio quality is uneven, perhaps due to uneven master source. McKellen's readying is masterful and Fagles' translation is profound and stirring.

Marisa

GREAT audio book with a wonderful translation. The audio quality sometimes dips, but this was very helpful, seeing as it's a poem, better heard that read.