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The Iliad

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The Iliad

Written by: Homer, Bernard Knox - introduction, Robert Fagles - translator
Narrated by: Derek Jacobi, Maria Tucci
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Dating to the ninth century BC, Homer’s timeless poem still vividly conveys the horror and heroism of men and gods wrestling with towering emotions and battling amidst devastation and destruction, as it moves inexorably to the wrenching, tragic conclusion of the Trojan War. Renowned classicist Bernard Knox observes in his superb Introduction that although the violence of the Iliad is grim and relentless, it coexists with both images of civilized life and a poignant yearning for peace.

Combining the skills of a poet and scholar, Robert Fagles brings the energy of contemporary language to this enduring heroic epic. He maintains the drive and metric music of Homer’s poetry, and evokes the impact and nuance of the Iliad’s mesmerizing repeated phrases in what Peter Levi calls “an astonishing performance.” Ancient, Classical & Medieval Literature Classics Poetry Classical Greece

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What the critics say

“Fitzgerald has solved virtually every problem that has plagued translators of Homer. The narrative runs, the dialogue speaks, the military action is clear, and the repetitive epithets become useful text rather than exotic relics.” –Atlantic Monthly

“Fitzgerald’ s swift rhythms, bright images, and superb English make Homer live as never before…This is for every reader in our time and possibly for all time.”–Library Journal

“[Fitzgerald’ s Odyssey and Iliad] open up once more the unique greatness of Homer’s art at the level above the formula; yet at the same time they do not neglect the brilliant texture of Homeric verse at the level of the line and the phrase.” –The Yale Review

“What an age can read in Homer, what its translators can manage to say in his presence, is one gauge of its morale, one index to its system of exultations and reticences. The supple, the iridescent, the ironic, these modes are among our strengths, and among Mr. Fitzgerald’s.” –National Review

With an Introduction by Gregory Nagy

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It should be made clear to the purchaser that this is an edited version of the the Iliad, with many chapters missing. That said, Jacobi’s reading is mostly wonderful.

Heavily Redacted Version

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This is the first audible book I purchased and I hadn't realized that it was an abridged reading when I purchased it (my mistake).
The reading by Derek Jacobi was good and because they changed the narration to Maria Tucci for the abridged parts it was easy to find where to read the texts. I thought the summarizing of the chapters were well done as the key points were mentioned and parts of the important descriptions were mentioned.


Good reading

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Robert Fagles' translation is excellent, as is the reading performance of Derek Jacobi. However! This is an abridged version and I was sorely disappointed to discover this fact, only after I'd finished listening to it! I missed key parts of the story and I'm ticked about that. Abridged versions should be advertised as such. I feel swindled!

It's abridged!

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I think the story was very good, but when i first bought the book on amazon, and even typed the isdn from the book i had bought to the audiobook store, the audiobook was still skipping lines or paragraghs. Made me mad

Good book but audio is not good

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I bought this to listen along as my kids need to read it for a class. I specifically looked to make sure it was not abridged but in Book 2 it stops following the text for parts.....very, very frustrating. At least tell us in the notes that it doesn't follow the book. The narration is fantastic and great to listen to but would be nice to have the full version that matches the book.

Disappointed that it doesn't follow the text

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