
Homer
The Essential Homer
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Narrated by:
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Stanley Lombardo
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Susan Sarandon
About this listen
Here are the most exciting and essential parts of two historic, epic poems: the "Iliad" and the "Odyssey". The ancient words of Homer find a new home in today's world - spoken aloud, just as Homer intended.
Translated and Narrated by Stanley Lombardo. Introduction by Susan Sarandon.
©2000 Hackett Publishing Company (P)2006 Parmenides PublishingListeners also enjoyed...
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- By: Homer, Stanley Lombardo - translator
- Narrated by: Stanley Lombardo, Susan Sarandon - introduction
- Length: 15 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
The first of Homer's great epic poems, the Iliad portrays the final days of the Trojan war. The Iliad has stood the test of time and is still one of (it not the) best depictions of ancient warfare. It is an essential precursor to the infamous journey of Odysseus. Translated by Stanley Lombardo.
-
-
The Iliad made pleasurable.
- By Anthony on 12-02-07
By: Homer, and others
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The Essential Iliad
- By: Homer, Stanley Lombardo - translator
- Narrated by: Stanley Lombardo, Susan Sarandon - introduction
- Length: 5 hrs and 18 mins
- Abridged
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Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This audiobook contains the most exciting and essential parts of the Iliad, capturing the final 50 days of the Trojan war and bringing to life ancient men and heroic battles. It provides an integral beginning to the infamous journey of Odysseus. Translated by Stanley Lombardo.
By: Homer, and others
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey are unquestionably two of the greatest epic masterpieces in Western literature. Though more than 2,700 years old, their stories of brave heroics, capricious gods, and towering human emotions are vividly timeless. The Iliad can justly be called the world’s greatest war epic. The terrible and long-drawn-out siege of Troy remains one of the classic campaigns. The Odyssey chronicles the many trials and adventures Odysseus must pass through on his long journey home from the Trojan wars to his beloved wife.
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Oddball Translation
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New York Times best seller and Whitebread Book of the Year, Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney's new translation of Beowulf comes to life in this gripping audio. Heaney's performance reminds us that Beowulf, written near the turn of another millennium, was intended to be heard not read.
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Why, oh, why is it abridged?
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Overall
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-
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The first of Homer's great epic poems, the Iliad portrays the final days of the Trojan war. The Iliad has stood the test of time and is still one of (it not the) best depictions of ancient warfare. It is an essential precursor to the infamous journey of Odysseus. Translated by Stanley Lombardo.
-
-
The Iliad made pleasurable.
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By: Homer, and others
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- By: Homer, Stanley Lombardo - translator
- Narrated by: Stanley Lombardo, Susan Sarandon - introduction
- Length: 5 hrs and 18 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This audiobook contains the most exciting and essential parts of the Iliad, capturing the final 50 days of the Trojan war and bringing to life ancient men and heroic battles. It provides an integral beginning to the infamous journey of Odysseus. Translated by Stanley Lombardo.
By: Homer, and others
-
Homer Box Set: Iliad & Odyssey
- By: Homer, W. H. D. Rouse - translator
- Narrated by: Anthony Heald
- Length: 25 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
-
Performance
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Story
Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey are unquestionably two of the greatest epic masterpieces in Western literature. Though more than 2,700 years old, their stories of brave heroics, capricious gods, and towering human emotions are vividly timeless. The Iliad can justly be called the world’s greatest war epic. The terrible and long-drawn-out siege of Troy remains one of the classic campaigns. The Odyssey chronicles the many trials and adventures Odysseus must pass through on his long journey home from the Trojan wars to his beloved wife.
-
-
Oddball Translation
- By Joel Jenkins on 05-11-17
By: Homer, and others
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Beowulf
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- Length: 2 hrs and 13 mins
- Abridged
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
New York Times best seller and Whitebread Book of the Year, Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney's new translation of Beowulf comes to life in this gripping audio. Heaney's performance reminds us that Beowulf, written near the turn of another millennium, was intended to be heard not read.
-
-
Why, oh, why is it abridged?
- By Tad Davis on 09-25-08
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- Length: 9 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
John Milton's Paradise Lost is one of the greatest epic poems in the English language. It tells the story of the Fall of Man, a tale of immense drama and excitement, of rebellion and treachery, of innocence pitted against corruption, in which God and Satan fight a bitter battle for control of mankind's destiny.
-
-
The most accessible reading of Paradise Lost
- By Tony McClung on 02-21-10
By: John Milton
-
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- Narrated by: David Timson
- Length: 27 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this, the first prose history in European civilization, Herodotus describes the growth of the Persian Empire with force, authority, and style. Perhaps most famously, the book tells the heroic tale of the Greeks' resistance to the vast invading force assembled by Xerxes, king of Persia. Here are not only the great battles - Marathon, Thermopylae, and Salamis - but also penetrating human insight and a powerful sense of epic destiny at work.
-
-
Best of Audible's "The Histories" by Herodotus
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Good but the chapters aren't IN ORDER
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Great Narrator makes this story work
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Chima...The a solute Best
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The Trial and the Death of Socrates remains a powerful document not least because it gives a first-hand account of the end of one of the greatest figures in history.
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With Professor Esolen you will enter the terrible gates of Hell and progress level by infernal level to its diabolical depths. Professor Esolen places a special emphasis on the drama of the poem, leading you through each canto in succession. Professor Esolen will more than satisfy your curiosity about Hell and the fate of the damned. He will reveal in all its starkness the horror of sin and awaken in your heart a longing for divine love.
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THIS IS A LECTURER
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Agamemnon
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Epic poem
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The Iliad of Homer
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
For thousands of years, Homer's ancient epic poem the
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Vandiver never disappoints
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By: Elizabeth Vandiver, and others
Critic reviews
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Overall
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Story
The Iliad is one of the most enduring creations of Western Civilization and was originally written to be recited or chanted to the accompaniment of various instruments. Properly performed, this work today is just as meaningful, just as powerful, and just as entertaining as it was in the ninth century BC, and it casts its spell upon modern listeners with the same raw intensity as it did upon the people of ancient times.
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An Excellent Iliad
- By Jefferson on 04-17-10
By: Homer, and others
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The Essential Iliad
- By: Homer, Stanley Lombardo - translator
- Narrated by: Stanley Lombardo, Susan Sarandon - introduction
- Length: 5 hrs and 18 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This audiobook contains the most exciting and essential parts of the Iliad, capturing the final 50 days of the Trojan war and bringing to life ancient men and heroic battles. It provides an integral beginning to the infamous journey of Odysseus. Translated by Stanley Lombardo.
By: Homer, and others
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Homer's Iliad and the Odyssey
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- By: Gillian Cross
- Narrated by: Leighton Pugh
- Length: 4 hrs and 55 mins
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
When first published, Walker’s versions of the Iliad and the Odyssey attracted attention for the quality of the writing. Multi-award-winning author Gillian Cross makes two of the greatest stories in the world come alive for children in her strong, clear, deceptively simple retellings, which are faithful to the spirit and structure of Homer’s epic poems, and this new bind-up in a friendly format comes complete with an introduction.
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Grateful
- By Ashraf Abaza on 05-13-19
By: Gillian Cross
-
The Iliad
- By: Homer, Robert Fagles - translator, Bernard Knox - introduction notes
- Narrated by: Vidish Athavale
- Length: 20 hrs
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
This translation of The Iliad equals Fitzgerald's earlier Odyssey in power and imagination. It recreates the original action as conceived by Homer, using fresh and flexible blank verse that is both lyrical and dramatic.
By: Homer, and others
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Iliad
- By: Homer, Stanley Lombardo - translator
- Narrated by: Stanley Lombardo, Susan Sarandon - introduction
- Length: 15 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The first of Homer's great epic poems, the Iliad portrays the final days of the Trojan war. The Iliad has stood the test of time and is still one of (it not the) best depictions of ancient warfare. It is an essential precursor to the infamous journey of Odysseus. Translated by Stanley Lombardo.
-
-
The Iliad made pleasurable.
- By Anthony on 12-02-07
By: Homer, and others
-
Homer Box Set: Iliad & Odyssey
- By: Homer, W. H. D. Rouse - translator
- Narrated by: Anthony Heald
- Length: 25 hrs and 2 mins
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-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey are unquestionably two of the greatest epic masterpieces in Western literature. Though more than 2,700 years old, their stories of brave heroics, capricious gods, and towering human emotions are vividly timeless. The Iliad can justly be called the world’s greatest war epic. The terrible and long-drawn-out siege of Troy remains one of the classic campaigns. The Odyssey chronicles the many trials and adventures Odysseus must pass through on his long journey home from the Trojan wars to his beloved wife.
-
-
Oddball Translation
- By Joel Jenkins on 05-11-17
By: Homer, and others
-
The Iliad
- By: Homer, Richmond Lattimore - translator
- Narrated by: Charlton Griffin
- Length: 22 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Iliad is one of the most enduring creations of Western Civilization and was originally written to be recited or chanted to the accompaniment of various instruments. Properly performed, this work today is just as meaningful, just as powerful, and just as entertaining as it was in the ninth century BC, and it casts its spell upon modern listeners with the same raw intensity as it did upon the people of ancient times.
-
-
An Excellent Iliad
- By Jefferson on 04-17-10
By: Homer, and others
-
The Essential Iliad
- By: Homer, Stanley Lombardo - translator
- Narrated by: Stanley Lombardo, Susan Sarandon - introduction
- Length: 5 hrs and 18 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This audiobook contains the most exciting and essential parts of the Iliad, capturing the final 50 days of the Trojan war and bringing to life ancient men and heroic battles. It provides an integral beginning to the infamous journey of Odysseus. Translated by Stanley Lombardo.
By: Homer, and others
-
Homer's Iliad and the Odyssey
- Two of the Greatest Stories Ever Told
- By: Gillian Cross
- Narrated by: Leighton Pugh
- Length: 4 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When first published, Walker’s versions of the Iliad and the Odyssey attracted attention for the quality of the writing. Multi-award-winning author Gillian Cross makes two of the greatest stories in the world come alive for children in her strong, clear, deceptively simple retellings, which are faithful to the spirit and structure of Homer’s epic poems, and this new bind-up in a friendly format comes complete with an introduction.
-
-
Grateful
- By Ashraf Abaza on 05-13-19
By: Gillian Cross
-
The Iliad
- By: Homer, Robert Fagles - translator, Bernard Knox - introduction notes
- Narrated by: Vidish Athavale
- Length: 20 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This translation of The Iliad equals Fitzgerald's earlier Odyssey in power and imagination. It recreates the original action as conceived by Homer, using fresh and flexible blank verse that is both lyrical and dramatic.
By: Homer, and others
What listeners say about Homer
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
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Performance
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- Paulo
- 01-06-13
Outstanding abridgement
I don't think it is really necessary (or even relevant) to commenting on the importance of the Iliad and the Odyssey so I would rather focus on some questions specific for this edition.
The abridgement: to summarize Homer is certainly a bold task but it seems to me that this was done as well as possible. The summaries fill in the blanks for the missing parts which are important to the story so it does not feel awkward. The other important aspect is that the abridgement was done by selecting pieces, not by rewriting the text itself so you are still listening to Homer.
The translation: This is another contentious area but the translation worked for me. It does convey a lot of the epic style without sounding too archaic or difficult to follow, which would not work very well in an audio book. (Printed editions often come with lots of explanatory notes and adding something like that would break the flow of the audio text irreparably).
The performance: Although he is not a professional actor, the performance was very convincing. An audio edition also has the advantage of the restoring the oral performance, which is how these texts were originally meant to be performed.
In summary, they have managed to create a very interesting version, which still captures the attention and makes you want to "hear what will happen next" - even though the plot is obviously anything but new.
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