The Odyssey, Homer
The Odyssey, Homer
27 Rating(s)
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The Odyssey
The Fitzgerald Translation

Author: Homer, D. S. Carne-Ross, Robert Fitzgerald

Narrator: Dan Stevens

Unabridged: 10 hr 15 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 09/16/2014

Synopsis

"In classical Greece men called rhapsodes memorized and recited “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey.” My own rhapsode is the English actor Dan Stevens, whom fans of “Downton Abbey” will know as Matthew Crawley. He’s been performing the Robert Fitzgerald translation, and no Hellene could do it better." — Wall Street Journal

Robert Fitzgerald's translation of The Odyssey has been the standard translation for more than three generations of students and poets. Macmillan Audio is delighted to publish the first ever audio edition of this classic work, the greatest of all epic poems. Fitzgerald's supple verse is ideally suited for audio, recounting the story of Odysseus' long journey back to his wife and home after the Trojan War. Homer's tale of love, adventure, food and drink, sensual pleasure, and mortal danger reaches the English-language listener in all its glory.

In keeping with the oral tradition of the time, Dan Stevens, whose many celebrated performances include Downton Abbey's Matthew Crawley, makes this epic tale come alive. The listener becomes totally immersed in the adventure and drama of the story – this is the way The Odyssey was meant to be experienced.

Also included on the program is a portion of the poem read in ancient Greek so that listeners may experience the lyricism and music of the original language.

About Homer

Homer is a legendary ancient Greek epic poet, traditionally said to be the creator of the epic poems the Iliad and the Odyssey. Homer's works form the groundwork of the Western Canon and are universally praised for their genius. Their formative influence in shaping many key aspects of Greek culture was recognized by the Greeks themselves, who considered him as their instructor.

About Robert Fitzgerald

Robert Fitzgerald's versions of the Iliad, the Aeneid, and the Oedipus cycle of Sophocles (with Dudley Fitts) are also classics. At his death, in 1985, he was Boylston Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory at Harvard.

About Dan Stevens

Dan Stevens is a film, television, and theater actor whose many celebrated performances include Downton Abbey’s Matthew Crawley. On stage, Stevens has appeared in numerous Shakespeare productions for the Peter Hall Company as well as West End revivals of Arcadia and The Vortex. He starred in the 2012 Broadway hit The Heiress and is a regular columnist for the Daily Telegraph. His previous audio credits include Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Ken Follett’s Fall of Giants.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Maciej on January 05, 2020

Pros: - mentions a few Greek myths/books (Argonautica, Iliad, Odyssey, Schliemann's Troy, Atlantis) Cons - most of the conclusions of the author are naive - 1/3 of the book focuces on Plato's dialogues (Critias, Timaeus), where the author tries to compare alread known candidates of Atlantis to the desc......more

Goodreads review by Annie on June 13, 2012

My thoughts on Reality and Truth – (as I think this needs to be said before the review)These things change constantly. When you were six it was your reality that Santa Clause existed. It was 100% true to you. This does not mean it was not real and it does not mean that it is real. Reality is always......more

Goodreads review by Gurudatt Rao on August 06, 2022

An author who never disappoints in providing substantive linkage of humans to extraterrestrials. Another amazing book in the series. A must read for someone believing in space exploration, ancient aliens and life ahead.......more

Goodreads review by Andrés on April 20, 2015

A long time ago when I was in highschool, my history teacher would tell us that we should check our "facts" with at least three different sources to consider them facts. Or was it some other teacher? Anyway, the point was clear enough, don't take anything at face value until you've researched it tho......more

Goodreads review by Mark on October 28, 2021

An interesting book that brings up well-researched challenges to the established historical narratives that unfortunately falls short in presenting much satisfying evidence or argument for its "aliens were the gods". Does it create a great case for advanced civilizations during the Ice Age? Yes. Does......more

Quotes

“Fitzgerald's smooth, musical verse is perfectly matched in this performance by the light, honeyed tones of Dan Stevens, the British actor who played Matthew Crawley in the first three seasons of "Downton Abbey." Stevens has beautiful, clear articulation, and wonderful pacing, and he really seems to enjoy the poetry of the words. I confess that I could listen to him all day.” —The Boston Globe

“The lightness of Fitzgerald's touch, his almost conversational poetry, is well suited to the spoken word and to an audio version. His translation is in turn well served by the audio production... The reader is the talented actor Dan Stevens… his tone is not conventionally ‘bardic,' which is to say not dark, ponderous or declamatory, but rather young, bright and noble – as if King Harry had decided to deliver Homer instead of his St. Crispin's Day speech.” —The New York Times

Awards

  • Audie Award Finalist
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