Daphnis and Chloe

De: Longus

Narrado por: Nicholas Boulton

Daphnis and Chloe is one of the most engaging and gently erotic stories to emerge from the ancient worlds of Greece and Rome. It is a pastoral tale, telling of a boy and a girl, both abandoned (but separately) as babies on nearby hillsides; one becomes a goatherd, the other a shepherdess, and a mutual attraction arises as they move from childhood to adolescence and to the slow discovery of desire. Will aggressive forces and rival suitors prevent a natural consummation and happy conclusion?

Daphnis and Chloe is a gem from the pen of the otherwise unknown second-century CE Greek writer Longus. It is the only work of his to survive, and little is known of him. Though perhaps overshadowed by the Roman magnificence of Ovid’s Metamorphoses (dating from a century earlier), Longus’ story entranced the choreographer Michel Fokine, who persuaded the French composer Maurice Ravel to write music for a ballet on the love story as part of the Ballets Russes’ season in Paris in 1912. Ravel, inspired, produced one of the most ravishing scores of the Impressionist period. Despite that, Longus’ original text seems to have slipped into obscurity. Here, at last, is the world premiere audiobook recording presented with sensitivity and charm by Nicholas Boulton. The Athenian Society translation.

Public Domain (P)2018 Ukemi Productions Ltd

Charming love story

Great story for those looking to get into Greek literature. The narration was awesome. Would definitely listen again.

Beautiful performance

Oh, what a joy to be innocent. This took me back to my childhood days.

Exquisitely Constructed Ode to Love

I went in knowing nothing and came out the other side charmed. It’s an unflinching, no-subversions-necessary pastoral, but a beautifully crafted one. A gem of simple, but touching storytelling. A shame that we have so little from Longus.

The reader’s performance was well done. Recommended if the above sounds like something you’d like.