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The Odyssey
- Audible Iliad & Odyssey, Book 2
- Narrated by: Claire Danes
- Length: 13 hrs and 32 mins
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Publisher's summary
Acclaimed actress Claire Danes burnishes an epic story of heroes, gods, and monsters in a groundbreaking translation of The Odyssey, the first great adventure story in the Western literary tradition. When the wily warrior-king Odysseus sets off for home after the Trojan War, he doesn’t realize this simple undertaking will become a perilous journey of 10 years. Beset at every turn, he encounters obstacles, detours, and temptations—both supernatural and human—while his wife Penelope fends off would-be suitors desperate to take the throne.
Emily Wilson is the first woman to take on the daunting task of translating over 100,000 lines of a three-millennium-old poem from Ancient Greek to modern-day English. Her breathtaking rendition captures the poetic immediacy of the original text, while allowing listeners to experience The Odyssey with an honesty and directness few other versions have achieved. The result is a lean, fleet-footed translation that recaptures Homer’s “nimble gallop” and brings an ancient epic to new life. A fascinating introduction provides an informative overview of the Bronze Age milieu that produced the epic, the major themes of the poem, the controversies about its origins, and the unparalleled scope of its impact and influence.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
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Go Behind the Scenes with Claire Danes
Our favorite moments from The Odyssey
About the Performer
Claire Danes is an Audie and Emmy Award-winning actress and star of the TV series Homeland, the 2010 HBO movie Temple Grandin, and much more. In 2013, Danes received the Audie Award for best spoken-word performance in Fiction. Danes is also the recipient of four Golden Globes and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.
About the Author
The Iliad and the Odyssey were not invented from scratch by any individual. These great written poems make artful use of a long oral tradition, developed over centuries by many illiterate singer-songwriters. The two epics were composed perhaps in the seventh century BC, by one person or several people, about whom we know nothing. Whoever she, he, or they were, Homer was the most popular poet of antiquity, known simply as The Poet. These metrical, musical, dramatic, thrilling, fast-moving, multi-vocal poems were often performed orally by professional poetry-actors (rhapsodes), and were well-known to everybody in the ancient world: old, young, female, male, rich, poor, educated, illiterate, slave, and free.—Emily Wilson
About the Translator
Emily Wilson is a professor of classical studies and chair of the program in Comparative Literature and Literary Theory at the University of Pennsylvania. She received a BA in Classics and an MPhil. in English Renaissance Literature from Oxford, and earned her PhD. from Yale in Classics and Comparative Literature. Wilson is the author of three books, and has translated works by Seneca and Euripides. Her acclaimed line-for-line verse translation of The Odyssey, in regular iambic pentameter, aims to capture the poetic magic and rich, complex characterization of the original poem. Wilson has been reading Homer in Greek for over thirty years, and was first exposed to the story of The Odyssey at the age of eight, when she appeared as Athena in her elementary school play.
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Wish I Hadn't Cliff Noted This in High School
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By: Ray Bradbury
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Brain Damage
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As Charly struggles to recover from her brain injury, she begins to realize that the events of that fateful night are trapped in the damaged right side of her brain. Now, she must put the jigsaw pieces together to discover the identity of the man who tried to kill her...before he finishes the job he started.
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Who Else Laughed, Cried, and Shuddered?
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Starship Troopers
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Johnnie Rico never really intended to join up—and definitely not the infantry. But now that he’s in the thick of it, trying to get through combat training harder than anything he could have imagined, he knows everyone in his unit is one bad move away from buying the farm in the interstellar war the Terran Federation is waging against the Arachnids. Because everyone in the Mobile Infantry fights. And if the training doesn’t kill you, the Bugs are more than ready to finish the job.
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The definitive version!
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Ghost Stories: Stephen Fry's Definitive Collection
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As the days grow shorter and the temperature drops, Halloween approaches. Come, brave listener, pull up a chair, and spend some time with master storyteller Stephen Fry as he tells us some of his favourite ghost stories of all time, in truly terrifying spatial audio. From the headless horseman of Sleepy Hollow to the tortured spirits of M.R. James, from Edgar Allan Poe’s terrifying tale of a doppelganger to Charlotte Riddell’s Open Door that should definitely stay shut, join Stephen as he tells you some truly terrifying tales.
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Wonderful narration. Mediocre stories.
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Slayers: A Buffyverse Story
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Original cast members from the beloved TV series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, reunite for an all-new adventure about connections that never die—even if you bury them. A decade has passed since the epic final battle that concluded Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV). The game-changing spell that gave power to all potential Slayers persists. With new Slayers constantly emerging, things are looking grim for the bad guys.
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A dream come true
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The Strange Case
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Dr. Jekyll (Vanessa Kirby) is an elite international specialist in energy systems, working closely with her handler Louis (David Oyelowo) in a career that takes her across the globe to politically volatile territories such as Iran and North Korea. But when an arms dealer accuses her of having killed his family, Dr. Jekyll begins to question details of her life, who Louis really is, and whether her strange recurring dream has a greater meaning. She enlists the help of psychologist Sigrun (Sofie Gråbøl), and together they delve into Dr. Jekyll’s darker other side, a brutal assassin named… Hyde.
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Love the Originals !!
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Wynonna Earp
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Saddle up and join Wynonna Earp on an immersive new audio adventure in the gritty supernatural world of Purgatory. This Audible Original invites you deeper into the Weird West to follow Wynonna Earp (Melanie Scrofano), as she embarks on her craziest adventure yet: riding off into the sunset with her soulmate, Doc Holliday (Tim Rozon)—yes ... that Doc Holliday. Brace yourself for more wise-cracking demon hunters, earth-shattering revelations and all the genre-blending action you've come to expect from the cult hit TV series.
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Happy #Earper ☺️
- By Kate Skidmore on 10-17-24
By: Emily Andras
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Odysseus has been away from Ithaca, the Greek city-state under his rule, for ten years while fighting in the Trojan War. After the fall of Troy, Odysseus begins the long journey home to his wife and son; however, his journey is plagued by misfortune as the gods feud over his fate, leaving the Ithacans to believe that he has died. In the myths and legends that are retold here, Fagles has captured the energy and poetry of Homer's original in a bold, contemporary idiom, and given us an Odyssey to read aloud, to savor, and to treasure for its sheer lyrical mastery.
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It's hard to imagine a worse narrator.
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Surviving the Trojan War was just the beginning of the adventure for Odysseus. What lay ahead was a journey home that would last for years as he encountered gods and monsters before finally returning home - only to face the greatest threat to his happiness of all. This translation of Homer's classic tale captures all the timeless excitement and gripping drama that have made it a favorite for centuries.
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Not Enough Information in the Listing
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Worth the price, worth the time
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A good read
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It's hard to imagine a worse narrator.
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Grateful
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narrator lacks intrigue
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Homer is one of the most important figures in ancient Greek literature, believed to have lived in the 8th century BC. He is most famous for his epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey, which are considered to be the founding works of Western literature. The Iliad tells the story of the Trojan War, focusing on the hero Achilles, while the Odyssey recounts the adventures of the Greek hero Odysseus as he attempts to return home after the war. Both works are celebrated for their vivid storytelling, complex characters, and profound exploration of human nature.
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"My fame is written in the heavens, and my fate too..." So speaks Odysseus as he starts to recount his struggles to sail home to Ithaca, in one of the greatest pieces of storytelling in Western literature. The Odyssey is his incredible traveller's tale, and also the story of his faithful wife Penelope who waits for him, besieged by suitors, and their son Telemachus who has a quest of his own.
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Excellent, but not an exam reference!
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For thousands of years, Homer's ancient epic poem the
Iliad has enchanted readers from around the world. When you join Professor Vandiver for this lecture series on the Iliad, you'll come to understand what has enthralled and gripped so many people. Her compelling 12-lecture look at this literary masterpiece -whether it's the work of many authors or the "vision" of a single blind poet - makes it vividly clear why, after almost 3,000 years, the
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Vandiver never disappoints
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The publication of a new translation by Fagles is a literary event. His translations of both the Iliad and Odyssey have sold hundreds of thousands of copies and have become the standard translations of our era. Now, with this stunning modern verse translation, Fagles has reintroduced Virgil's Aeneid to a whole new generation, and completed the classical triptych at the heart of Western civilization.
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Good but the chapters aren't IN ORDER
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Homer's epic poem, written near the end of eighth century BC in Greece, follows the hero Odysseus as he journeys home after the fall of Troy. Many scholars believe that The Odyssey was originally composed as an oral tradition and was more likely meant to be heard than read, making it a great listen.
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Iliad
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The first of Homer's great epic poems, the Iliad portrays the final days of the Trojan war. The Iliad has stood the test of time and is still one of (it not the) best depictions of ancient warfare. It is an essential precursor to the infamous journey of Odysseus. Translated by Stanley Lombardo.
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The Iliad made pleasurable.
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One of the foremost achievements in Western literature, Homer's Iliad tells the story of the darkest episode in the Trojan War. At its centre is Achilles, the greatest warrior-champion of the Greeks, and his refusal to fight after being humiliated by his leader, Agamemnon. But when the Trojan Hector kills Achilles' close friend Patroclus, he storms back into battle to take revenge - although knowing this will ensure his own early death.
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Slow Start, Strong Finish
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The Iliad, set 9 years into the Trojan War, tells the story of the wrath of Achilles. The Odyssey tells the story of Odysseus as he wearily travels home from the war. The two epics provide the basis of Greek education and culture in the classical age. They have long remained among the most significant poems of European tradition. Produced here in full cast arrangement and narrated by Rob Goll, one can experience these age-old stories in a brand new way.
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Wonderful! I was waiting for a dramatized version
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By: Homer
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The Odyssey
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"The Odyssey" is the story of the Greek hero Odysseus, or Ulysses, who began a journey home after the fall of Troy. It will take him ten years of marvelous and terrible encounters before he finally reaches his native city, where everyone assumed he was dead. There will he find his wife Penelope, famously weaving and unweaving a never-ending tapestry while obnoxious suitors are competing for her hand. Once again, Odysseus will have to outsmart his opponents in order to be reunited with his family.
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Abridged Not the full story
- By Kelsey_Audible on 07-27-17
By: Homer
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The Iliad & The Odyssey
- By: Homer
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- Unabridged
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The Iliad and The Odyssey are epic poems traditionally attributed to Homer, of which the written versions are dated to the 8th century BCE. Chronicling events in the Greek Bronze Age, this magnificent pair of poems forms the cornerstone of Western literature. If The Iliad is a classic war story, The Odyssey is symbolic of the individual’s journey through life.
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Iliad and oddessey
- By Justin J. Larsen on 03-17-20
By: Homer
What listeners say about The Odyssey
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- fbp
- 06-04-19
Glad I did
Began reading the excellent and informative intro in a copy in the bookstore. Bought the book and read/listened. The introduction is long but enhanced my understanding and enjoyment of the subsequent text. I don’t have a classics background and can’t quibble about this or that translation but can say that I enjoyed this one. I found that having the book available helped me spell some of the names and places mentioned in the audio performance and allowed me to research them. I’ll return to the Odyssey in the future.
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- Jimmy
- 07-28-19
Enjoyed the translation, not so much the narration
The translation was great. I also liked the preface giving historical context and info about the translation process, even though it was long. I just didn't enjoy Claire Danes' narration though. Her voice just wasn't suited to it, in my opinion. All in all it was still enjoyable but it could have been great with better narration.
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- Daniel Morlan
- 05-29-19
Excellent 21st Century Translation.
Hardcore classicists (who are men) might not appreciate this the same way as a progressive armchair historian and classicist. The story is well-narrated and concise, and I think the author did an amazing job with her translation. An excellent modern interpretation of Homer with an iambic pentameter English contemporary delivery. Well worth the read!
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- Joao Taborda
- 08-08-19
Awesome epic journey
I would definitely recommend this book as it is an awesome epic journey! The performance from Claire Danes is quite pleasing and the book is easy to listen.
Awesome book, awesome performance!!!
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- Patrick Howell
- 10-28-19
The odyssey
A classic tale that is a great and necessary part of a classic education. Second time enjoying the Odyssey and plan on more reads or listen toos.
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- Anonymous User
- 05-27-19
Excellent!
Emily Wilson's is a fabulous, fresh translation! This recording features a compelling narration by Claire Danes. Highly recommended.
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- Bardolater
- 08-08-19
Great for less experienced readers
Once I got used to Claire Danes' voice, this was good, but I would prefer a different reader. This translation is very accessible-- my kids can understand it, but it occasionally slips into diction that feels too pedestrian to me. It loses the timeless quality when this happens. We listened to the lengthy introduction, which I found interesting, but my children were less enthusiastic. Be warned: the introduction is long.
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- William D fyffe
- 11-20-22
Great story; poor reading
I agree with the translations assessment that using archaic words doesn’t lend “authenticity” to an ancient story. The translation was good. The reading was lackluster. Claire Danes’ reading voice is marginal at best. Her voice crackles as she speaks. She also has a slight lisp on her S. Clair Danes made her living being physically attractive. This is of no benefit in an audiobook. I will not voluntarily listen to another story read by her. Everything else about the book was great.
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- Toni Simon
- 08-07-21
Excellent performance
So glad I chose this reading of the Odyssey. The performance was riveting and emotional. The introductory chapters were fascinating. I would highly recommend this version.
Toni Simon
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- Jeff Koeppen
- 03-09-20
Classic with great narration by Claire Danes
I reread The Odyssey as part of the Reading Envy readalong. I think I first read it in high school but I'm questioning now if I finished it because I would've certainly remembered the events in the last few books. Overall, I really enjoyed simultaneously reading the Fagles translation and listening to the Emily Wilson translation. I preferred the Fagles translation. The Wilson translation seemed to simple for me and made it sound too contemporary. Some words seemed out of place, for example has Odysseus tell some one that he couldn't do his "exercise routine" while out at sea. It felt jarring to me, as did a few other words in this poem.
I thought the storytelling was great and our flawed and tricksy hero was captivating. What didn't work for me were the ever-present magical interventions and teleportation of the gods. In my usual reading the characters have to "science the shit" out of something to survive, like Mark Watne in The Martian; in fantasy the characters call up the gods and magic to get them out of a rough spot.
I had a number of parts which I really liked:
- It was neat hearing Homer talk about astronomy as I was walking my dogs predawn. I could see two of the constellations he was talking about: the Plow (the Big Dipper), and Bootes (the plow man); and, of course, the unmoving North Star. Thanks for throwing me some science, Homer.
- The emotional reunions: Odysseus and loyal Eumaeus the swineherd, Odysseus and Telemachus, Telemachus and Penelope - but my favorite one was the reunion between Odysseus and his loyal dog Argos! The poor old(!) dog living on a dung heap hadn't seen Odysseus for 20 years and recognized him even when no human did as Odysseus was in Athena's disguise. Odysseus even shed a tear. A dog lover! Great stuff.
- The Undercover Boss: Ithaca episode, in which its most famous resident, Odysseus, is turned in to an old beggar by Athena and experiences life amongst his faithful servants, and even his unknowing wife! Those who were rewarded at the show's end for kindness to the beggar were Eumaeus the swineherd, Philoetius the cowherd, and Eurcyleia, the old nurse / attendant. Those who were terminated (literally) from Odyssey's employment were Melanthius the goatherd, and Melanto the maid servant. The latter two were brother and sister so I guess their demeanor ran in the family. Melanthius received the worst punishment of all. Too much!
- The REVENGE! I was expecting some unpleasantness when Odysseus carried out his revenge, but not the bloodshed at the level of a Tarantino film which we experienced. He showed no pity at all. No mercy. The mass hanging of the disloyal maids was brutal, and he made them clean up all the other bodies first! Ouch.
I was surprised how much oil the Greeks used. They oiled everything. And if you were a traveler and happened upon a respectable home you were bathed and oiled. Not bad. I was a little disturbed by the amount of animal sacrifices. No animals or age groups were spared. The numbers seemed excessive at times. Did the gods really require that amount of butchering?
I listened to Wilson's Introduction last as it contains spoilers. It is full of interesting insights and is sort of a CliffsNotes summary. In Wilson's Translator's Note she gives us her credentials and background, and explains why her translation is different than ones that came before hers, and even why she chose certain words and descriptions. She wanted her translation to feel more modern and it certainly does. Overall, this was a fun experience. Fantasy and mythology aren't genres I read but I really enjoyed this classic epic
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