The Iliad

De: Homer, Stephen Mitchell - translator

Narrado por: Alfred Molina

From the renowned translator of Rilke, Tao Te Ching, and Gilgamesh, a vivid new translation of Western civilization’s foundational epic: The Iliad.

Tolstoy called the Iliad a miracle; Goethe said that it always thrust him into a state of astonishment. Homer’s story is thrilling, and his Greek is perhaps the most beautiful poetry ever sung or written. But until now, even the best English translations haven’t been able to re-create the energy and simplicity, the speed, grace, and pulsing rhythm of the original. Now, thanks to the power of Stephen Mitchell’s language, the Iliad’s ancient story comes to moving, vivid new life, and we are carried along by a poetry that lifts even the most devastating human events into the realm of the beautiful.

Mitchell’s Iliad is also the first translation based on the work of the preeminent Homeric scholar Martin L. West, whose edition of the original Greek identifies many passages that were added after the Iliad was first written down, to the detriment of the music and the story. Omitting these hundreds of interpolated lines restores a dramatically sharper, leaner text. In addition, Mitchell’s illuminating introduction opens the epic still further to our understanding and appreciation.

Great Read, But Skip Past the Intro

The actual story and performance is amazing but I'm docking my review by one star for the awful preface that comes out of nowhere. It was read by someone who I would not go out of my way to listen to, but still, you've got to be patient! The actual story is great, but please, please, please recut the recording to remove the preface. It gives away too much of the story and is a real snoozefest.

Excellent translation

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely! Alfred Molina is every bit as good as a narrator as he is an actor. His talent helps add to the power of the Iliad.

Have you listened to any of Alfred Molina’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Absolutely masterful. I've always appreciated him and do so even more having heard his reading skill. He is melodious, powerful, and sensitive to every aspect of this epic novel.

Masterpiece!

If you have never fallen in love with The Iliad, please listen to this right now, and hear the story the way the ancient Greeks did. Enthralling story telling about the human experience, not just a war book. And the narrator is a master, too.

Loved it!

Hard and arduous I've tried to read this before, but this read like butter. Extraordinary. Look forward to reading Mitchell's translation of other works!

Grit & Guts

After 100+ audiobooks on Audible, I’ve finally found the best! This timeless story is delivered with such forcefulness by Molina that the words have a thickness which can be chewed. I’ve never gritted my teeth during an audiobook until now. Molina has a delivery which drips in swagger one moment and rage the next. You can feel the sand from the beaches of Troy in his throat. Achilles’ disgust with everything around him is visceral and biting to the say the least, thanks to Mitchell’s translation.
I can’t recommend this enough. If you’ve only ever dabbled in Homer, start here. If you’re squeamish, look elsewhere.