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The Odyssey

By: Homer, Robert Fagles - translator
Narrated by: Ian McKellen
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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)

What listeners say about The Odyssey

Average customer ratings
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Okay

Fairly irritating narration, but obviously good story. Something about McKellen's tone was distasteful and aggravating.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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Good translation, good performance, poor engineeri

Fagles' translation is fantastic and McKellen gives a great performance, but the audio is uneven.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Amazing

The narrator was amazing. My only complaint is the strange music breaking up the chapters.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome story! Terrible quality after chapter 9

The story is obviously timeless. Ian Ian McKellen read it to me made it come to life.

However, There is something wrong with the recording after chapter 9! McKellen’s voice goes down an octave. It seems as if it’s slower. Not sure why?

I tried to see if Audible could fix the issue. They tried to remedy it but could not. My local public libraries’s copy (Via the Overdrive and Libby apps) works great.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Great narration

Can’t beat the voice of Ian McKellen to narrate this classic tale.
The ‘music’ between chapters was awful, screechy. They could have made a better choice.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Better than the cliffnotes

In highschool I read the cliffnotes of The Odyssey--it seemed boring and dry. It wasn't until I listened to this that I realized why The Odyssey is a timeless classic. I was on the edge of my seat by the time Odysseus reveals himself to the suitors. Who would have guessed that old Homer could do that in an age of Marvel Movies?

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Classic

Ian McKellen’s performance was great. A top notch read for anyone wanting to switch it up with something from antiquity.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Sir Ian McKellen is invincible!

I couldn't get enough of this. It is the first audiobook I have listened to on Audible and after reading The Iliad, I did a back to back immersion of Ancient Greece. I am hooked!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A classic, read by a classic

Would you consider the audio edition of The Odyssey to be better than the print version?

I appreciate knowing how to pronounce all those Greek names.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Odysseus is both a commanding hero and an excellent flirt.

Which scene was your favorite?

Odysseus is both at his best and his worst when he meets the Cyclops.

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

Much better to draw it out into episodes. Each adventure has a flavor of its own.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I mean, it’s the Odyssey...

Read by Gandalf. An epic tale. The impeccable Fagles translation had my little sister (a Greek mythology newb) loving every twist and turn. “When dawn with her rose-red fingers shown once more...”

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