Fantastic Narration of a Timeless Classic

Homer is Homer; no surprises there. The best part of this translation/edition is by far the narration. Heald is excellent. While Homer can be difficult to follow on a first read/listen, I think this audiobook would be a fantastic accompaniment if one were to follow along with a hard copy of Rouse’s translation. Heald really brings the texts — written in 8th century BCE — to life.

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Great story for all ages

I choose a 5 because this is the classic story and performed very well by the narrator. I recommend this to all but know it is long and not a quick listen and requires you think about the messages it gives.

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the story of Odysseus

I loved to hear about ancient battles and how mythology intervened in them. Later on when the book of Odysseus is told, it also includes certain figures of Greek mythology.

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A classic pair of books narrated very well

The narration was excellent and the books are absolute classics. Some of the translation differed from other versions I have read, but that isn’t a big deal in my mind.

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An Excellent Reading of Homer’s Classics

This was a very enjoyable listen. Heald narrates Homer’s classics masterfully and conveys their full breadth of grandeur and humour seamlessly.

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Great classics with a great performance!

I’ve read both books before, but the performance of Anthony Heald narrating these books made the experience even better.

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Love the Greek gods

First book was dull and all about war and the different ways one can die in war. Second book was much more interesting and full of adventure and trickery and triumph

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A War Story and a Road Trip

The Iliad
For a story 2800 years old, The Iliad has held up rather well. (Classic understatement, pun intended.)

At heart, it's just an excerpt from the story of the Trojan Wars, encompassing a mere few months of the decade-long conflict. Yet it captures the essence of war: Bitterness, pride, hubris, and obsession cause the warriors to lose sight of their objective. In the end, no one is happy at the result.

Listening to this as an audiobook has brought a whole new perspective to my understanding of the tale.

The Odyssey
Road Trip!

They say it's not the destination, it's the voyage, but in this case the real point of the story is that Odysseus really wants to get home! He's not interested in the sights and adventures; indeed he tries to dissuade his men from delays and rash decisions.

Still, I find it suspicious that he spent 6 years "trapped" on the island of the beautiful goddess Calypso. Listening to this gave me insight into James Joyce's "Ulysses."

Amusing aside: The producers must have used Speech to Text to aid in generating the chapter headings for this audiobook, because the chapter which introduced The Odyssey is entitled "The Odyssey: The Story of the Disease." Oopsy.

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A Good Grind

There's a lot of mixed reviews on this book so I'll try to provide some clarity. First off the narrator did an incredible job pronouncing the names and using inflection in his voice.
This book will be a bit confusing if you dont know much about Greek mythology but you will get through it.
The book is broken into two main parts, 1. of the war and 2. of Odysseus's return home.

The first part is of the war on Troy and it's practically impossible to keep track of all the characters. In ways it's comical how the war is fought and quite descriptive. I found the end of this part didn't give me closure for the story.

The second part was much easier to follow (still a bit tricky to recall the dozen or so characters). This part of the story flows nicely and comes to a nice close.

If you like tales of humanity and Greek mythology you'll probably enjoy this. The 25h is daunting and any advanced reader/listener would enjoy this. Not for a beginner at all though. Hope this helps with your decision.
Joshua

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Serviceable Rendition

Homer's tales about the war at Troy and the Gods-complicated return of Odysseus to Ithaca are truly timeless. Whether you're a professor of Classics at some university or simply a fan of Brad Pitt/Eric Bana films, these stories are worthy of your attention. 'The Iliad' is an action-heavy listing of heroes violently killed on both sides of the war - focussing on Achilles and Hector.. while 'The Odyssey' is more of a conventional entry into the "Greek Mythology" genre. Regardless, both warrant your appreciation.
I have read/listened to several iterations of the works, and W.H.D Rouse's translation is capable - although glaringly employing some artistic license (I guarantee that the 8th Century BCE Greek poet never used the word "Antediluvian", for example).
If you're looking for academic adherence to Homer's exact words - look elsewhere.. but this interpretation is very, very good.

Likewise, in this recording's favor, Blackstone Audio Inc. employed Anthony Heald to read the works. His diction, timbre, cadence, and timing are satisfyingly unimpeachable.. but one would hope a professional reader would provide nothing less. His didactic/emotive tone, however, is uncommonly spot-on for what is offered. Notwithstanding occasional uncomfortably loud deep breaths (avoid earbuds with this one), Heald's performance is exceptional.

Altogether, there are better recordings available for these tales (and more accurate translations) - but this 7.5/10-star offering would fit well into your library. Yes, Audible asking for a Credit would be unconscionable (better options beckon for your money).. but if you can get this audiobook included with your subscription, do not hesitate.

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