Loved it!

Very, very theatrical - throws himself into the narration. Some won’t like it, but once I got over my initial shock I thought it was fantastic.

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epic in every sense

Simon Callow & the Fagles translation takes you back to how this epic was meant to be enjoyed

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4 people found this helpful

I can’t believe it was that good

The performance is unlike anything I’ve heard before. The narrator plays all roles, female and male, human and divine, to perfection.

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Great translation, legendary narration

Usually it is hard to listen to these archaic stories but this translation and narration really brings it to life.

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it's called Eneidas for a reason

Simon narrations are impeccable. But for the story itself, great classic Virgil but feels like a second class Odyssey. in my humble opinion.

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excellent

Simon Callow provides gripping narration to this epic. The Aeneid is a must read and I recommend you read it. This audio book is a good supplement and brings this tragic tail of war ,love, suicide and humanity; at the hand of the gods, to life.

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2 people found this helpful

A good continuation of the epic tradition

I throughly enjoy Homer I have listened to and read the Iliad and the Odyssey a number of times, especially the former which I would go as far as saying I consider to be a fundamental piece on the way I think and view life, death and legacy.

However for whatever reason I had never approached the Aeneid. From the start I was hooked the brilliant retelling of events in chapter 2 (If memory serves me right) regarding the fall of Troy and how the refugees fled the city, the loss of Aneas' wife and how he shoulders his aged father from the ruins were moving. They speak to our modern world in many ways.

The following chapters at Didos court and the tragedy that follows were also intriguing, moving and meaningful you can really feel the sorrow of Dido but also of her poor sister. The travels towards Italy and into the underworld were also very entertaining.

Upon reaching Italy the book changes somewhat in tone. I must admit I found it hard at times to fully follow the story of the war between the Trojans and the Latins. Perhaps a closer listen or a read is required. However I must say that by chapter 9 or 10 i was fully back and engaged with the story. The death of Pallas, the war rage of Camilla and the final battle where Aneas is stalking the mists and ruins of the battle field hunting Turnus is extraordinary.

The political connotations of the work are also highly interesting when we consider why this work came into being and the multitude of times the work glorifies or predicts the rise and power of Rome. Whilst this can at times be jarring, especially for those coming to this from Homer, it is undoubtedly interesting to see and certainly gives the work a more grounded base, unlike Homer which to me feels very mythic both in the telling of the story and in the context of the story itself.

The text itself is very friendly and modern in its translation without losing the ancient feel or to much of the meter of the poetry. The narration is also wonderful, Callow really becomes passionate during the explosive scenes almost shouting out the lines alike to a live performance.

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1 person found this helpful

Simply wonderful!

I'm a bit biased; I do like Simon Callow. And I have to say that he does a fantastic job of bringing this story to life. The chapter describing the fall of Troy is a particular highlight.

It is hard going in places though, which is more to do with the text than the narration but it is a great story, told very well.

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Hear it as it is meant to be heard!

Just like Dickens, this work was designed to be heard, rather than read, and it is performed with real style here.
Prepare to be sucked into a bygone world, and just enjoy.

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17 people found this helpful

Poorly produced

Despite the Aeneid famously having 12 chapters, to mirror Homers work, inexplicably this version has been split in to 10 chapters. This means occasionally a 'chapter' ends and you get a short burst of music at a particularly incongruous point.

Also, the intro is provided as a PDF. I'm not going to read a PDF in an app on my phone. Its not even in a format I could use on my ereader. Presumably this recording was done a few years ago, perhaps for radio, and has been recycled for Audible.

For me the narration was a little over excited. I can't fault the guy for enthusiasm but it was just a little over the top at points. Some of the battle scenes are reminiscent of someone commentating a horse race, which admittedly brought a smile to my face, but isn't the tone I would expect.

Even more subjectivity, I'm not a huge fan of this translation (although I'm not aware of a better one). While it moves along at a reasonable pace, some of the vocabulary appears to be deliberately archaic. For example the use of the word 'dugs', I don't think benefits anyone.

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13 people found this helpful