Odyssey Audiobook By Homer, Stanley Lombardo - translator cover art

Odyssey

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Odyssey

By: Homer, Stanley Lombardo - translator
Narrated by: Stanley Lombardo, Susan Sarandon - introduction
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The Odyssey tells of the heroic journey of Odysseus after the Trojan war. In his attempt to return home to Ithaca, this ancient hero is faced with obstacle after obstacle, mythic creature after mythic creature. This is an epic poem encompassing an epic journey as famous as it is classic.

Translated and Narrated by Stanley Lombardo. Introduction by Susan Sarandon.

©2000 Hackett Publishing Company (P)2006 Parmenides Publishing Ancient, Classical & Medieval Literature Classics Collections Greek Poetry

Critic reviews

"Stanley Lombardo provides a welcome translation, contemporary in its rhythms, assurance, and clarity....this version of the Greek classic sounds honest, intimate, and, most importantly, clear." ( AudioFile)
Timeless Story • Captivating Narrative • Vivid Imagery • Engaging Storytelling • Modern Translation • Strong Protagonist
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The writing and narration come together to craft a thrilling experience. Well done to the interpreter for stepping in and delivering a solid performance!

The author’s narration

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Enjoyed the narration and translation very much. It is better to listen to Homer rather than read the translations on paper.

Very good

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An excellent translation and performance. The Susan Sarandon summaries are utterly unnecessary, but that is my only complaint about it.

Excellent*

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Some translations make the classics die on the page. This one breaths them to life.

Phenomenal Translation and Reading

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I had to read The Odyssey for a college course, and having an audio book alternative has been very helpful as I can "read" while driving or cooking. I really enjoyed this audiobook because the sound effects were fantastic! I could really put myself in the story.

Great Narration

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Original heroic story. Thoroughly enjoyed it, this 2800 year old epic. Has bravery, sadness, victory, vengeance, all at the will of the gods.

Recommend Iliad and Arnold, which round out the story.

Odyssey

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Stanley Lombardo's modern translation is excellent. I love Susan Sarandon's intro to each chapter. She's like a herald.

Stanley Lombardo's translation is excellent.

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I have many translations of Homer ...Fitzgerald, Fagles etc ... and have begun them all. Finished none. Something always bothered me. Finally realizing they seemed "contrived". Reading them also seemed ... wrong. Homer was spoken ...even performed. Yes it's all been said but ... I speaking Italian fluently and realize translating Italian poetry to English in the same meter with forced rhymes (English famously not as Poetic as Italian or Greek) is iffy at best. I am also a writer of poetry, music and musician. With Stanley Lombardo it sounds "natural." Unforced. And ...most importantly, natural, understandable and entertaining which were and are the first principles of any entertainer. With which Homer was certainly most concerned. Closing my eyes ...with a "wine dark glass with cut apples and pears" soaking in it and a good cigar) outside. THIS is as close to imagining Homer reciting. This is how life should be lived.

THIS is the way Homer was meant to be LISTENED to

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I had just finished listening to Dan Stevens' remarkable reading of The Odyssey, translated by Robert Fitzgerald. But my Homer itch hadn't been fully scratched. For relief I turned to an old favorite - Stanley Lombardo reading his own translation of The Odyssey.

Lombardo's version is equally remarkable, but in a very different way. Where Fitzgerald is stately and heroic ("lift the great song again"), Lombardo is earthy and immediate. Lombardo developed his version originally for public performance, and his reading reflects that: it's brisk, rhythmic, and varied.

I don't read Greek, ancient or modern, and can't recommend one over the other in terms of accuracy. What I CAN say is that both are successful narrative poems in English, although they seem to be almost intentionally at opposite ends of the diction continuum.

One of the things I enjoy about the Lombardo recording is that Susan Sarandon provides a brief synopsis of each book beforehand. Another thing I like is the musical theme that plays as each episode begins. I've heard people complain about the fact that it's the same theme each time; but to my way of thinking, that's an asset. It serves to set the mood and it ties together the various parts of this extremely varied work of literature.

Earthy and immediate

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A good way to get thru long hours at work.
So I need to add 5 more words.

good story

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