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Homer Box Set: Iliad & Odyssey cover art

Homer Box Set: Iliad & Odyssey

By: Homer,W. H. D. Rouse - translator
Narrated by: Anthony Heald
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Summary

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 heroism and treachery of its combatants unmatched in song and story. Driven by fierce passions and loyalties, men and gods battle to a devastating conclusion.

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. Though the stormy god of the ocean has sworn vengeance against him, and witches and sirens try to lure him off course, Odysseus is clever and has the brilliant goddess Athena on his side.

Homer (9th or 8th century B.C.) is the presumed author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, the two greatest epic poems of ancient Greece. Virtually nothing is known about his life. Tradition has it that he was blind. Most scholars believe he composed the Iliad and the Odyssey by relying on oral traditions. Their value lies chiefly in the poetry itself, moving from sublime passages about the gods and heroic exploits to passages expressing deep human emotion.

Public Domain (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"The best translation of Homer that I have ever read is by W. H. D. Rouse." (Dudley Fitts)

What listeners say about Homer Box Set: Iliad & Odyssey

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

WIth regret, I gave up

For many years I'd meant to read these icons of classical literature, but never got around to them. As I listen to audio books all the time this set seems a good opportunity to immerse myself in in the world of Agamemnom, Achilles, Odysseus et al. After several hours of listening I sadly gave up. Largely because the overly frenetic narration in a strong, American accent. I'm sorry to say it just didn't work for me. The text also needed a slower delivery to allow the listener to take in all the unfamilar names.

It's difficult to rate the story, which I'm sure is worth five stars, but, for me needed to be narrated by someone else.

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41 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

beautiful stories, beautifully read..

What made the experience of listening to Homer Box Set: Iliad & Odyssey the most enjoyable?

both books have been on my "to do" list for years but for some reason I thought of reading them a bit of a daunting task. What a pleasure to listen to them, so beautifully read or should I say acted? so many names, gods, mortals.. I found it confusing at the beginning, who is who? who is doing what to whom? and it really doesn't matter, just listen and enjoy every minute.

What did you like best about this story?

everything

Have you listened to any of Anthony Heald’s other performances? How does this one compare?

no, but I thought he was fantastic

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

let yourself be carried away ....

Any additional comments?

forgive my possible mistakes, english is not my mother tongue.

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38 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great stories and a performance to match.

What did you like most about Homer Box Set: Iliad & Odyssey?

Anthony Heald's performance. I was dubious even listening to the audio clip ("Dr. Chilton from Silence of the Lambs for the length of two epic poems? Surely not!") but quite honestly it is the best audiobook performance I have ever heard. The strength of the voice; the attention to detail in phrasing and emphasis; the characterization - it is consistently wonderful. I was rapt. What an utterly under-appreciated talent Heald is.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Homer Box Set: Iliad & Odyssey?

One of the Gods appears to the Greeks as an old man. For some reason Heald gives him an Irish accent. It is highly entertaining.

Which character – as performed by Anthony Heald – was your favourite?

Zeus.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, though you would do well to concentrate for the length of these two.

Any additional comments?

Anthony Heald is my next Audible search word!

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23 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Epic. Literally

Enjoyed this so much. Hearing the tale and recalling it from lessons as a kid was gratifying. I must have been listening in classical civilisation more than I thought!

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19 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Once I started I couldn't switch it off

Great voice acting by Anthony Heald one of the best in his field, and he really makes this an entertaining read 😀

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10 people found this helpful

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

Fantastic!!!!

If you could sum up Homer Box Set: Iliad & Odyssey in three words, what would they be?

Interesting, Intelligent, Thrilling.

Have you listened to any of Anthony Heald’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No

Any additional comments?

Anthony Heald brings an old story back to life. Simply the best performance I have ever heard.

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10 people found this helpful

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

truly epic

Would you listen to Homer Box Set: Iliad & Odyssey again? Why?

Yes i would as im bound to forget bits of it over time

What other book might you compare Homer Box Set: Iliad & Odyssey to, and why?

It compares favourably to any book of myth&legend of the gods&greats

Have you listened to any of Anthony Heald’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No I have not but his voice fitted well with the story&genre

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

To much to take in in 1go

Any additional comments?

It is an epic in every sense of the word
Not only is it a wonderful story but it also offers insights into ancient gree hustory,culture&society
Shows the gods warts&all as both great&petty amongst many things.

In time this will be how we view our own books of gods&myths

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

Excellent reading of the greatest epic poems ever written. Need I say more? Apparently so because my original review had too few characters.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Comprehencive with historical names but not enthralling as I'd hoped

Good narration but story was lacking. Vocabulary was tedious in whole and a hard listen.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Out of My Comfort Zone But Glad I Tried It.

I have been trying for years to pluck up the courage to read these epic tales. I am not a classicist and the books were well out of my comfort zone. I found The Iliad quite difficult to p concentrate upon. The hordes of characters and unfamiliar names, countries etc made this a book I had to listen to in large chunks, otherwise I had to keep rewinding it to remind myself of things.

The Iliad concentrates on the siege of Troy and the events that lead up to it. It is a book about war and soldiering and so it really wasn't my cup of tea. It also ended very suddenly which I found a bit difficult and unsatisfying. But there were positive moments and passages of real enjoyment. I just had to keep reminding myself that the tale was written over two thousand years ago and I couldn't apply modern sensibilities to it.

I enjoyed The Odyssey a lot more as it was full of familiar tales from Greek mythology. It was easy to follow and more enjoyable as a reading/listening experience. Again, I had to disengage my modern sensibilities quite a lot and remember that the roles of men, women and children were very different in those times. The Greek warrior code pervades both books.

The narrator did a good overall job but somehow I coudn't warm to his performance. I think a more solemn, deeper voice might have helped the style of the book, but that is just a personal opinion. I found the narrator's voice irritating, but I cannot put my finger on why this was.

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5 people found this helpful