The Iliad
Written by Homer
Narrated by Anton Lesser
4/5
()
About this audiobook
Homer
Although recognized as one of the greatest ancient Greek poets, the life and figure of Homer remains shrouded in mystery. Credited with the authorship of the epic poems Iliad and Odyssey, Homer, if he existed, is believed to have lived during the ninth century BC, and has been identified variously as a Babylonian, an Ithacan, or an Ionian. Regardless of his citizenship, Homer’s poems and speeches played a key role in shaping Greek culture, and Homeric studies remains one of the oldest continuous areas of scholarship, reaching from antiquity through to modern times.
More audiobooks from Homer
The Iliad Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Odyssey Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Iliad: The Fitzgerald Translation Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Odyssey: The Fitzgerald Translation Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Homer's The Iliad and The Odyssey Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Iliad by Homer Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Odyssey (Unabridged) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Odyssey Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Odyssey by Homer Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Homer The Ultimate Collection: The Iliad The Oddessy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Odyssey of Homer (Unabridged) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Complete Works of Homer (75 books): The Iliad, The Odyssey, The Homeric Hymns Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Iliad of Homer Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5
Related authors
Related to The Iliad
Related audiobooks
The Iliad & The Odyssey Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Iliad Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Jason and the Argonauts Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Oedipus Rex (unabridged) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Iliad by Homer Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Oedipus Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Antigone (unabridged) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Theogony Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Prometheus Bound Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Odyssey by Homer Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Homer's Iliad and the Odyssey: Two of the Greatest Stories Ever Told Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Plutarch's Lives: Volume 1 of 2 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Oedipus Rex - King of Thebes Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Works and Days Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Divine Comedy: Inferno, Purgatory, Paradise Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5The Theogony of Hesiod Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Knyghte's Tale Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Odyssey Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Iliad Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Aeneid Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Iliad of Homer Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Paradise Lost Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Divine Comedy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Inferno Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Aeneid Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Odyssey of Homer (Unabridged) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Oedipus Rex Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Metamorphoses Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Divine Comedy: Inferno Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Canterbury Tales Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Poetry For You
Milk and Honey Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tao Te Ching: A New English Version Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Pretty Boys Are Poisonous: Poems Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Prophet Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Inferno Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Iliad: A New Translation by Caroline Alexander Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Gift of Rumi: Experiencing the Wisdom of the Sufi Master Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Rumi's Little Book of Life: The Garden of the Soul, the Heart, and the Spirit Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Beowulf Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Pure Act: The Uncommon Life of Robert Lax Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Paradise Lost Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Gilgamesh: A New English Version Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Raven and Other Poems: Classic Tales Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Inferno - Dante Alighieri Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Strength In Our Scars Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: with Pearl and Sir Orfeo Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I Ching: The Book of Change Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Spirits in Bondage Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Any Man: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Metamorphoses Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Raven Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Poems of T.S. Eliot Read by Jeremy Irons Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Beowulf: A New Translation Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Inferno of Dante Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Walden Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHome Body Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Aeneid Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Classic Hundred Poems: All-Time Favorites Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Sun and Her Flowers Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5One Thousand Gifts 10th Anniversary Edition: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related categories
Reviews for The Iliad
5,663 ratings109 reviews
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Overrated.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Of the epics I studied, the Iliad was my least favourite. My favourite character in Greek myth is Cassandra, but she barely appears in the Iliad. I ended up wanting to skip a lot of the fighting scenes.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5For those who enjoy different versions of Homer, this is a splendidly clear and fast paced, abridged version of the Iliad by a major 20th century literary theorist. He has been forgotten in recent years, which is a pity. Richards is an exhilarating rediscovery.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A great abridged version that's a good reminder if you've read the book before.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is the original great war story. The translation here is phenomenal. Keeping the epic verse is key to getting a good read of this and here it is beautiful and informative.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5There are too many characters for me to really feel connected to this story. I did truly like Hector though and could not stand Achilles. I kept going back and forth between rooting for the Trojans and rooting for the Argives (despite knowing who'd win). Not something I'd ever re-read.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A cornerstone of Western literature that remains hugely influential. Read it for that reason, and because the poetry is still enjoyable enough to be read aloud with panache. The story itself is mostly a catalog of slaughter with very little human drama, although the interaction between the gods and the human characters is fascinating and tragic.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Of course, one of the great works of classical antiquity. If you decide to read it, I recommend first learning a smattering of classical mythology and of the historical and cultural context. I read the Barnes&Noble 1995 edition of the 1898 translation by Samuel Butler, which also contains a preface by him. The translation is highly readable prose without footnotes. A glossary identifies the gods and goddesses, Greeks, Trojans, women of Troy, and the scene of the action. Much fun!
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Important in the history of literature and classical Greek thought.
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5An extremely clumsy translation by an otherwise capable poet. I cannot critique the scholarship. but the word choice is ugly.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Confrontation upon confrontation (with some love scenes thrown in) - between man and god, between man and man. A rather incestuous story about what seems to obssess us even to this day. I love Lattimore!
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Stanley Lombardo's translation of Homer's Iliad is wonderful and very readable, better evoking the grittiness and rage of warfare than most other translations. I think of it as the "Vietnam War version of the Iliad." However, there are also parts where Homer's humor shines through, particularly when the Greek warriors are ribbing each other.Though the translation is excellent, I only got through about half of the book. The plot moves quite slowly, and the long lists of characters and backstory become tiresome. Also, there also is a lot of conversation between the various warriors, which illuminates Greek values (such as what makes for heroism or cowardice) but does not advance the storyline. Parts can get repetitious. I preferred the Odyssey, which I read in the Robert Fagles translation.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Trojan War classic by Homer read well, very enjoyable.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The narrator has brought this book to life!
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Poor literature. Bad plot; characters are flatter and thinner than the paper they're printed on. At least there is some interesting mythology here for later authors to write actual stories about.
The Mahabharata is much more interesting if you'd like some ancient mythological literature. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Drags in places, but is the quintessential "manly men doing manly things" story. I can see why it's survived for so long. The moral of the story is: hubris. Or it could be: don't mess with the gods, or do, it doesn't matter because FATE!
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5So. It's a classic. It's historical. It's arguably one of the most influential books in history. And it's boring as hell. I mean, I guess it reflects the values of the time--there's a lot of tragedy and irony, especially how everyone vaunts heroism and battle but really it's just a bunch of guys getting their eyes poked out. And heroism doesn't count for much when the heroes are a bunch of divas who cry when someone insults them. So maybe that was Homer's intent, to point out the bitter ironies of the culture. But holy moly, I can only read so many incidents of random dudes murdering each other before my eyes glaze over.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5This wasn't the story I thought it was. I enjoyed the Odyssey and knew the Illiad was about the Trojan War. When I think Trojan War, I think of the beauty of Helen and the Trojan Horse. The Illiad is about neither. It takes place 10 years into the war, but before it ends. It is mostly a long list of who killed who in what gruesome manner, and a bit of godly and human intrigue sprinkled throughout. Knowing that I probably wouldn't have read it, as battle scenes aren't something that typically appeals to me. However, I do think this translation by Fagles is good. It is in verse and reads smoothly.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Pretty amazing for a blind guy to come of with this. I can see why there are historical speculations that Homer might not have existed (I was started questioning that when reading The Iliad). Like most classics, this book has questionable homoerotic undertones with Achilles and Patroclus, inbred sex with Zeus and Hera, pointless wars with Achaeans and Trojans.
I'm curious though where the Golden Apple of Discord and the Trojan Horse come from because neither were mention in my edition translated by Robert Fagles. If someone could answer that I'd much appreciation. - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I started this in March and spring sprung then summer came and I just didn't pick it up. But when I moved I was w/o a washer & dryer and picked back up while at the laundromat. Then hurricane Irene came along and I finished it.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5It's a classic. C'mon people. Read it.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5I know the story well, through years of younger/abridged versions, but I did not enjoy this translated version, which was my first time reading as an "adult" version. It could be the timing, or it could be the story itself. Not sure. But it was just ok for me. That's all. It was difficult to endure the infantile bickering of the gods. The Greek and the Trojan warriors were the playthings - their puppets - and they manipulated them to work out their own selfish pride and jealousies. It was cruel and contentious, and very annoying.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This book is excellent.I found it fast paced and thoroughly enjoyable from beginning to finish.A worthy addition to your bookshelf.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Not an easy read or a pleasant one. The brutalities of war aren't shied away from, but the poetry does manage to reach the heights of sublime beauty. Gives a pretty comprehensive look at that era.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I don't know enough to compare this translation to any other, of course, but it seemed excellent to me! I knew bits of the story but not the whole of it -- I kept expecting things to be in there that were not and vice versa. Pretty amazing how the endless descriptions of armor translate perfectly to the focus on acquiring new armor in current video games. The intertwining of the gods' action and the humans' actions was striking. (And know I can appreciate Song of Achilles even more...)
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Great translation--liked it better than Fagles'.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Iliad takes place in the ninth year of the Trojan War. Achilles avenges the death of his loyal companion Patroclus by killing Hector, son of King Priam.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5READ IN DUTCH/GREEK
Also by Homer, but less well known than The Odyssey. I translated this book in my Greek class. But I'm still planning to read the whole book (as a book rather than translating) - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Important in the history of literature and classical Greek thought.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I have read this numerous times, but Fagles' amazing translation really made it seem new and exciting all over again.