The Aeneid

I've been a huge fan of Fagles' translations before buying this book and this translation does not disappoint. For epics such as this, the Iliad, and the Odyssey I've chosen to to read the actual book as I'm listening. For people, such as myself, whose concentration is not the greatest (I've had a couple strokes so I have an excuse) the combination of listening while reading is terrific.

I think the narrator is terrific and Rober Fagles is just amazing. If you like Fagles Aeneid, be sure to read and/or listen to his Iliad and Odyssey. Also, check out Steven Mitchell's "Gilgamesh", also availble from audible.com.

I don't think this is the best Aeneid on audiobook -- if you have to choose, get the Charlton Griffin one -- but it's not bad. The translation is wonderful: pithy, hard-hitting, and tough; it's worth having this one to get Fagles' take on Virgil, if nothing else. But the performance, though I liked it, is definitely not to everyone's taste. Simon Callow (or the producer?) decided to do it as if it were a one-man stage show, rather than a studio reading. If you've ever seen Callow doing Charles Dickens, you get the idea: it's a very broad performance.

On the other hand, Aeneas needs a boost. As epic heroes go, he's a pill and a half: dutiful to a fault, self-righteous and self-justifying ("well, I never actually used the word MARRIAGE, did I?"). Virgil takes received wisdom and the Grandeur that was Rome at face value, where Homer delightfully subverts everything he touches.

This translation of the Aeneid stands head and shoulders above anything else I have seen in English. It's exciting, to the point, and very very nuanced. The narrator is a fantastic choice too. His voice creates a world and moves you along through it. I put on my earphones just intending to to listen to a few minutes of the beginning the night I downloaded this, and I was pulled in for four hours of adventure before I could finally force myself to click "stop".

Although the narration is dramatic and in keeping with the quality of the translation, the narator's voice becomes unintelligible at the end of each passage. I gave up trying to listen while driving or exercising. I simply could not understand what was being said. If you purchase this title, I suggest you also buy the book and read it while listening to the narrator's performance, or else listen in a very quiet environment.

The narrator’s dramatic voice frequently fades in volume and elocution near the end of sentences. So, listen to this story at home; not on the road or other places where the ambient noise will make hearing difficult.

This is an extremely enjoyable translation, and Callow's narration is truly a performance. You definitely get your money's worth from this audiobook. I find it odd that some people think the work is better read than listened to; or they don't like the performance aspect of Callow's narration. These epic poems were meant to be spoken, and I imagine the best presenters in ancient times would have done it Callow's way. I almost rated it four stars only because as epic poems go, it is not as good as either the Illiad or the Odyssey. But that is really on Virgil. I don't think it would be fair to Fagles or Callow to rate it less than five stars.

This combination of translation and narration brings the beauty and passion of this work to the modern listener in a way similar to how it must have struck the ancient one. Some basic knowledge of the classical period will be helpful. The narrator does have a habit of dropping his voice at the end of sentences but this is a minor flaw considering his overall excellent rendition. This presentation helps one to understand why Virgil's work is a timeless classic.

I really have very little to say on this one. Fagles' natural gifts (and of course Virgil's too) come shining through thanks to Simon Callow's sophisticated and energetic reading. Unlike some other "actors" reading the classics, Callow clearly understands everything he is saying, and says it beautifully.

I downloaded this with some trepidation, fearing it would be too dense for listening. But the combination of a very accessible translation and a brilliant reading have proved my concerns unfounded. This is a marvelous way to enjoy one of the masterpieces of classical Roman literature. In many ways, it's better than reading, as the reader glides over names whose pronunciation would baffle me. I have listened to this while jogging and even cooking and have never found myself lost. A great story told by a great storyteller.

The audio version of this book definitely plays out well. Great narration and overall this is just an outstanding story on how the ruined civilation of Troy began the next great dynasty that would become the Roman Empire.