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The Iliad cover art

The Iliad

By: Homer, Richmond Lattimore - translator
Narrated by: Charlton Griffin
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Summary

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

What listeners say about The Iliad

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Masterful

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.

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9 people found this helpful

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good performance, bad proninciation

the narrator struck the right dramatic tone but his insistence to affect girlish voices for the female parts was annoying. moreso was his use of the received English pronunciation for names and places rather than how the names are actually pronounced in the Greek.

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4 people found this helpful

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Outstanding

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.

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2 people found this helpful

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Yeah it’s good

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.

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1 person found this helpful

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Powerful performance

Lion like reading especially when Griffin speaks forth the epic smilies. Highly recommend this rendition.

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A good read but not for everyone

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.

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not sure about the narrators voice.

the narrators voice is a bit sharp. there is a version of the iliad translated by Ian johnston that is a narrated by someone with a lovely voice.

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