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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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The Odyssey
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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.
What listeners say about The Odyssey
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Tommy Settimio
- 14-02-2024
Loved it!
At 50 years of age I finally read this epic! I thoroughly enjoyed it and found the intro but the author very helpful. The performance of the main story/poem was on point and it has left me wanting more… so onto the Iliad next. :)
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 16-05-2019
Love
Love it. Clare Dane's voice is elegance and emotion, she portrays the drama beautifully. I feel the story and the words through her.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- E. Toli
- 31-08-2022
Best translation ever
I loved this translation of The Odyssey. Both the actual book is great to read and the audio book is wonderfully performed. And this would have to be one of the best translations ever.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Liz Parnell
- 12-06-2020
Absolutely Stunning
Such a powerful story. The introduction and translators notes are long (together nearly four hours of the audiobook) but are well worth listening to as they certainly added depth to my understanding of the story as it went on.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kindle Customer
- 29-01-2023
Enjoyable Listening
I enjoyed listening to this podcast. Claire Danes, narration was clear and engaging.
The introduction prepared me for the events and the use of repetition throughout the poem and assisted with understanding the context of the poem.
If you have always wanted to read The Odyssey, I would recommend listening to this translation.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 13-05-2024
Clear and resounding
The translation brought so many scenes to light that I had overlooked in past readings. I feel like I've understood the whole more deeply than on any previous reading. The performance of the reader is perfect and unwavering
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jo Richy
- 06-10-2024
what a terrible Introduction
I liked the simplified translation, but the introduction was written by someone who has absolutely no idea of the cultural context of the book. Woke hermeneutics are invalid hermeneutics and as such a waste of time listening to. I recommend the Dr. Scott Masson lectures online regarding Homer.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Juy Hepner
- 10-07-2019
Claire brings pathos to the Odyssey
There’s not much for me to add by way of commentary to the story, except to say that spinster Athena must be more interested in promoting revenge and helping Odysseus get away from Circe and Calypso than seeing him return to Penelope, though she would have respected her long standing chastity. It’s this Athenian character that comes through in the reading of the beautiful Claire Danes, who might as easily played Helen as Juliette. There is in her voice the intimation of those alternate emotions exhibited by the goddess - the sparkling eyes that foretell great action and sadistic vengeance and bloodshed, and the outrage of a woman to spur on the man when he loses faith. Her voice is the strength of the passion of woman when it rises up in protective rage for her man. Penelope is passively charged and sly like her husband and Claire captures that voice as well. She well captures the contrast between Athena and Penelope- the contrast of the empowered and disempowered woman. Her only weakness is the male voices. She should have a go at Emily Bronte or Christina Rossetti.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Emma
- 03-04-2019
Sublime.
This was an incredible translation perfectly performed by Claire Danes. I can’t wait to listen to it all over again
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Tim Tilbrook
- 31-01-2019
wow
so great. it was really good and I think I just want to do it again.
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