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The Iliad

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About this listen

 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 B.C.,and it casts its spell upon modern listeners with the same raw intensity as it did upon the people of ancient times.

As you listen to this great work, you feel yourself to be in the presence of a grandeur that suffuses the very air. There is no question that the poet, whether his name was Homer or not, was one of the supreme artists of all time and all civilizations. But thiswonderful piece of poetry is not merely a catalog of events of the Trojan War. Specifically, the poem deals with the bitter dispute between Achilles and Agamemnon, and how the Greeks were almost destroyed by their hubris. Hovering about, the Olympian gods watch the unfolding events with keen interest, sometimes lending help and encouragement on one hand, or spreading fear and hatred on the other.

The Iliad is ultimately about the free will of man and his ability or failure to make rational choices in the face of conflict and chaos. Unlike the gods, menmust face death, which gives their decisions a spiritual meaning which is absent on Olympus. The great legacy of The Iliad is itsshattering revelation of what it means to be human in the face of life's uncertainty and fleeting mortality.

Public Domain (P)2008 Audio Connoisseur Ancient, Classical & Medieval Literature Epic Poetry Themes & Styles Classics Ancient History Greece Ancient Greece Emotionally Gripping Greek Mythology Mythology
All stars
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Lion like reading especially when Griffin speaks forth the epic smilies. Highly recommend this rendition.

Powerful performance

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This was... different than other books I have read. Not surprisingly considering how old it is but I enjoyed it. A bit difficult to remember all the names.
Interesting to listen to the relationship between men and the gods.

A good read but not for everyone

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I must admit, to begin with I was slightly daunted with the complexity of characters and terminology. However, I'm delighted I stuck with it as all became clear and I was rewarded with and epic tale that was all the better for the excellent narration by Charlton Griffin. Absolutely superb.

Outstanding

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I read this for my class and felt that the more literal translation would make it easier to read with an audiobook. The guy had a good voice but god can he not voice women at all.

Yeah it’s good

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The Lattimore translation is, with no argument, the finest modern English interpretation of the the Illiad. This recording is a match for the subject material. Evocatively read it brings alive the myth and drama. Very highly recommended.

Masterful

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