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The Odyssey  By  cover art

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
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    2,363
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    699
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    90
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Story
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Audiobook does not match the paper book chapters

Book 1- chapter 1
Book 2- chapter 7 time 1:20
Book 3-
Book 4-

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

A great retell of a classic book

This is worth the money if you have to read it for school or just want to listen.

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

Just as Homer intended it

The Fagles translation read aloud is perfect at conveying why this is such an important work. Since it originated in oral tradition, this is truly the closet an English speaker can get to hearing the story as it was meant to be heard.

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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

Fantastic performance & translation

I listened for about 45 min a day while walking the dog - the story is so engaging, very funny in places, dramatic. Absolutely gorgeous performance. Can't wait to listen to Iliad next.

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

Great rendition. Weird chapter setting.

McKellen is wonderful. But I don’t know why the Chapters weren’t set correctly. Still, I recommend it.

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

Fantastic!

This was a great way to read Homer's The Odyssey. Ian McKellen was wonderful. The story is one of the greatest in world history, in fact, it is the story that most other good stories borrow something from.

The only issue with this recording (which is why the overall is missing a star) is there are some brief glitches and then starting around Audible chapter 9, the voice is really slowed down for about two or three chapters. It was annoying but I simply used my Audible App speed feature and sped through those parts.

If you've always wanted to read the Classics, but felt intimidated, this is an excellent place to begin.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Absolutely excellent

The Odyssey is a great story to begin with, but the lively narration by Sir Ian McKellan brings so much more to it. It is both crisp and flowing. Glorious to hear.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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fantastic read of an amazing translation.

obviously, this book is epic. The translation is fantastic and the narrator is a top-notch performer. I may give it a second listen when young Dawn with her rose red fingers shines once more

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent

What did you love best about The Odyssey?

It's all good. It is an excellent translation voiced by a superb reader. The sound quality was patchy in places but that may have been the download.

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

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.

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