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    The Iliad
    The Iliad
    The Iliad
    Audiobook (abridged)5 hours

    The Iliad

    Written by Homer

    Narrated by Anton Lesser

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    About this audiobook

    One the earliest and greatest epic poems of the Western world, The Iliad tells the story of fifty critical days towards the end of the Trojan war. Achilles has quarrelled with Agamemnon and sulks in his tent while Hector brings his Trojans to the brink of victory; but fate will have the last word. While the heroes fight before the walls of Troy the gods have also drawn up battle lines, and it is their disagreements as much as the heroes’ efforts which will decide the conflict. Despite the poem’s antiquity, the very real, human qualities of the protagonists and their dilemmas make The Iliad immediately accessible, especially in the hands of a master story-teller such as Anton Lesser. The Iliad was composed in the eighth century B. C. almost certainly as an oral composition incorporating a number of different stories from a rich poetic tradition of works now lost to us. The identity of Homer has been fiercely but inconclusively debated since ancient times. The Greeks believed he was a single person, and various cities competed for the honour of naming him a citizen. However, nothing reliable is known about him, although some traditions insist that he was blind. The poem was originally designed for recitation on important occasions by a professional bard, at least until the sixth century B. C. when, according to Greek traditions, the Athenian tyrant Peisistratus had the poem written down and codified in a form similar to the work we know today.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherNaxos Audiobooks
    Release dateFeb 1, 2010
    ISBN9789629546571
    Author

    Homer

    Two epic poems are attributed to Homer, the Iliad and the Odyssey. They are composed in a literary type of Greek, Ionic in basis with Aeolic admixtures. Ranked among the great works of Western literature, these two poems together constitute the prototype for all subsequent Western epic poetry. Modern scholars are generally agreed that there was a poet named Homer who lived before 700 B.C., probably in Asia Minor.

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    Reviews for The Iliad

    4/5

    5,658 ratings108 reviews

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    • 3/5
      Of 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.
    • 5/5
      For 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.
    • 4/5
      A great abridged version that's a good reminder if you've read the book before.
    • 5/5
      This 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.
    • 3/5
      There 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.
    • 4/5
      A 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.
    • 4/5
      Of 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!
    • 3/5
      Important in the history of literature and classical Greek thought.
    • 1/5
      An extremely clumsy translation by an otherwise capable poet. I cannot critique the scholarship. but the word choice is ugly.
    • 5/5
      Confrontation 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!
    • 3/5
      Stanley 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.
    • 4/5
      The Trojan War classic by Homer read well, very enjoyable.
    • 5/5
      The narrator has brought this book to life!
    • 1/5
      Poor 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.
    • 5/5
      Drags 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!
    • 3/5
      So. 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.
    • 2/5
      This 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.
    • 5/5
      Pretty 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.
    • 3/5
      I 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.
    • 5/5
      It's a classic. C'mon people. Read it.
    • 2/5
      I 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.
    • 4/5
      This book is excellent.I found it fast paced and thoroughly enjoyable from beginning to finish.A worthy addition to your bookshelf.
    • 4/5
      Not 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.
    • 5/5
      I 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...)
    • 5/5
      Great translation--liked it better than Fagles'.
    • 3/5
      The 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.
    • 3/5
      READ 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)
    • 3/5
      Important in the history of literature and classical Greek thought.
    • 5/5
      I have read this numerous times, but Fagles' amazing translation really made it seem new and exciting all over again.
    • 5/5
      Better than the movie! Once you get the rhythm it sucks you in like a time machine. Amazing.