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Iliad: The Story of Achilles Audiobook
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(3.00) - 125,218 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Homer’s Iliad can justly be called the world’s greatest war epic. The terrible and long-drawn-out siege of Troy remains one of the classic campaigns, the heroism and treachery of its combatants unmatched in song and story. Driven by fierce passions and loyalties, men and gods battle to a devastating conclusion.
“Homer is full of merriment, full of open fun and delicate comedy, even farce—as when Ares, wounded, bursts up to Olympus like a bomb. And the divine family! What a delightful natural party: human beings raised a degree or two, but all the same, funnier than that. They are the comic background for the tragedy below—for the story of Achilles is a tragedy—the fiery conflict of a man divided against himself, who in a few short days drops to the lowest hell of savagery, then rises to self-mastery and inward peace.”—W.H.D. Rouse
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"I've read this work three times. There is something about the treatment, the language, that gives me a taste of the war. It doesn't feel like an ancient battle. I know these people. I recognize them. They're like me. Only I have to remind myself that this happened a long time ago. "
— F. (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Without the Iliad the West would be a vastly poorer place; Homer’s achievement speaks to every successive generation with its unflinching understanding of the essential tragic nature of life.”
— Jon Meacham, author of American Lion -
“Iliad is a powerful statement of what it means to be human in the middle of vast and senseless bloodshed.”
— Masterpieces of World Literature -
“The Iliad is one of the two great epics of Homer, and is typically described as one of the greatest war stories of all time, but to say the Iliad is a war story does not begin to describe the emotional sweep of its action and characters.”
— Amazon.com, editorial review -
“The classic epics were the original audiobooks, and the power of the Iliad, undiminished over the centuries, comes over best in a spoken reading. Anthony Heald brings vigor and freshness to this rendition, and the pacing and clarity of his articulation are excellent, both in conveying the poetic quality of the lines and in maintaining the narrative flow of the storytelling. His narrative line is simple, direct, and tense, and this fine production makes clear why the Iliad stands up beside any narrative of war and men in arms, ancient or modern. Invigorating in both content and meter, this is an excellent title for extended activity—walking, driving, doing yard work.”
— AudioFile
Iliad Listener Reviews
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" Loved it when we read it at school. "
— Despina, 2/18/2014 -
" i read the fitzgerald version, not the fagles one. i have been living a lie. "
— Jason, 2/16/2014 -
" Just picked this up at the age of fifteen and really loved it. "
— Chelsea, 2/8/2014 -
" Bogs itself down with the combat halfway through, but it's a classic tale. "
— Richard, 2/7/2014 -
" I had read the Odyssey in High School but never the Iliad. It took me some time to complete because I found I had to be in a certain mood and a quiet enviroment, however when you are able to establish the reading rhythm with it, it's magical. "
— Sharlene, 2/6/2014 -
" very interesting book. it helped me stay awake. this had a lot of action and i like books that actually do things and make the book feel better then it was. "
— Adam, 2/4/2014 -
" Even remembering this book makes me want to take a nap. It's a long, drawnout combat between two forces and ends with the only memorable scene (the trojan horse) in the entire thing. I recommend that you skip right to the Odyssey. "
— Dustin, 2/3/2014 -
" Great read - I personally prefer the Odyssey over the Iliad mainly because there is quite a bit of fighting/ battle scenes and a lot of names of soldiers/generals. Good read but the Odyssey is better. "
— Amanda, 1/30/2014 -
" Long live epic poems about killing. "
— Joseph, 1/29/2014 -
" I had some difficulty getting into it at first, but once I read it as a performance piece, I began to understand it and it's easy to see that ancient audiences would east it up. I'd pay money to see a talented actor perform it. "
— Mark, 1/16/2014 -
" I am so bored by this book. I've come to find out that The Iliad is not really necessary in the understanding of The Odyssey (the reason I was reading it anyway). Maybe when I'm older I'll like it better, or something. But I just can't right now. I can't torture myself with this horrendously tedious book any longer. "
— Faith, 1/15/2014 -
" I have a rough relationship with Homer and Greek literature in general. It's hard for me to get into the stories because the Greek and Trojan "heroes" are hardly heroes at all. "
— Riss, 1/15/2014 -
" I preferred the Odyssey, but this one has its moments as well. Skip the list of ships and armies. "
— Benjamin, 12/19/2013 -
" A brilliant translation, grippingly readable, an action movie in fluid language. A book to be savored again and again. "
— John, 12/6/2013 -
" Had to read this one for High School English. As a teacher, I've had to take a stand against whole class books. My memory of this book is exactly why I'm opposed to one-size-fits-all books. This book is not for everyone. "
— Sarah, 11/30/2013 -
" I love what Fagles does with this translation. I actually read this for a class and we compared certain books in the Lombardo and Fitzgerald translations. They are all three very different reads. I would highly recommend this translation if you've never read it. "
— Cherrie, 11/16/2013 -
" once the language clicked I really got into it and it's one of those things everyone should know a bit about "
— Leisa, 10/20/2013 -
" I have read this numerous times, but Fagles' amazing translation really made it seem new and exciting all over again. "
— Darren, 10/19/2013 -
" My fourth year high school English teacher gave this to us to review. I fell in love with Greek Mythology through this book. I am in Greek haven. "
— Camille, 10/2/2013 -
" Read for a class. Essential reading for insights into the Malazan Book of the Fallen :^D "
— Kevin, 10/1/2013 -
" I read Homer years ago. "
— Vicky, 9/12/2013 -
" El primer libro que lei... "
— Juan, 9/7/2013 -
" Todo en ella se disfruta. "
— Nameh, 7/26/2013 -
" I can barely stand it. "
— Vladimira, 7/13/2013 -
" Good read, good view of how the world was in ancient Greece "
— Brian, 7/9/2013 -
" One of those classics everyone should have on their reading bucket list. "
— Samara, 7/7/2013 -
" OK, I know that Homer was a Greek but the idea of Hector going to battle with Achilles (the son of a god) and knowing that he was no match for Achilles makes him the true hero of the story. Sorry Homer. "
— Rod, 12/31/2012 -
" Well that was painful. I'm glad I don't have to read about any more battles or sacrifices to the gods. Whew. "
— Wendy, 12/17/2012 -
" Good, but once in history, the sequel is even better :-) "
— Kenzie, 10/16/2012 -
" I wasn't impressed by Martin Hammond's rather dry translation, but it is the Iliad! Of course it is brilliant! "
— Matthew, 9/9/2012 -
" It was required reading in school. While the other kids struggled, I loved it! "
— Darlene, 7/20/2012 -
" I love myth and such but i could not read any version of this book i've found. i know all the myth and such i like probably sprang from this! "
— Mark, 6/10/2012 -
" Graphically violent but oh so poetic. Narrated beautifully by Alfred Molina from the translation by Stephen Mitchell. I enjoyed it so much that I'm now listening to The Odysey with Gilgamesh to follow. "
— Danny, 4/19/2012 -
" The best epic poem. Period. "
— Travis, 10/6/2011 -
" The Iliad and The Odyssey: why The Classics are the classics of literature. I many ways, all that you ever read are derivative of these two works. "
— Marco3x, 10/1/2011 -
" People who say the Odyssey is better are wrong. "
— Shannon, 9/13/2011 -
" I probably will reread this just to get a better feeling because I read it in my Sophomore English class. I most definitely love Homer though! Even if no one really knows how many people he was... "
— Alyssa, 7/11/2011 -
" I'm just not into violent action books, but this is top dog. "
— Amyshaft, 7/11/2011 -
" It's a must read classic if you simply want to be cultured. Plus it sounds impressive to say you've read it. "
— Heather, 5/25/2011 -
" I was first familiar with The Odyssey (read and loved that as a kid), but I fell in love with Homer through The Iliad. Some parts are forgettable (when he starts listing their competitions and all the random prizes that people won, I zone out) but ignore that. Enjoy the prose. "
— Grace, 5/25/2011 -
" I love both the Fitzgerald and the Lattimore translations. This work is everything. My desert island book, if I were given the desperate situation of only having one book. "
— Leigh, 5/20/2011 -
" I love both the Fitzgerald and the Lattimore translations. This work is everything. My desert island book, if I were given the desperate situation of only having one book. "
— Leigh, 5/20/2011 -
" This is one of the best books not written. It was part of an oral tradition like much of the Hebrew/Christian Bible, but more entertaining. "
— David, 5/19/2011 -
" This is one of the best books not written. It was part of an oral tradition like much of the Hebrew/Christian Bible, but more entertaining. "
— David, 5/19/2011 -
" Tra i due poemi, il mio preferito. "
— cristina, 5/15/2011 -
" Tra i due poemi, il mio preferito. "
— cristina, 5/15/2011 -
" I try to read this through at least once a year. Each time is more moving to me then the last. "
— Alford, 5/7/2011 -
" I try to read this through at least once a year. Each time is more moving to me then the last. "
— Alford, 5/7/2011 -
" Of Homer's works, the Iliad is my favorite. <br/> <br/>This translation, I think, is the best one. "
— Karen, 5/4/2011 -
" Of Homer's works, the Iliad is my favorite. <br/> <br/>This translation, I think, is the best one. "
— Karen, 5/4/2011 -
" I swear if Greeks and the Trojans did not spend so much time scavenging for valuables on the dead and if they took up modern day burial practices the Trojan war would have lasted a year. "
— Cedar, 5/1/2011 -
" I swear if Greeks and the Trojans did not spend so much time scavenging for valuables on the dead and if they took up modern day burial practices the Trojan war would have lasted a year. "
— Cedar, 5/1/2011 -
" Really good required read if your tiring to catch up on the classics, Read with the Oddssey. "
— Charles, 4/28/2011 -
" Really good required read if your tiring to catch up on the classics, Read with the Oddssey. "
— Charles, 4/28/2011 -
" I've read this work three times. There is something about the treatment, the language, that gives me a taste of the war. It doesn't feel like an ancient battle. I know these people. I recognize them. They're like me. Only I have to remind myself that this happened a long time ago. "
— F., 4/26/2011 -
" I read the Stanley Lombardo translation, which rocked my socks off. "
— Hilary, 4/22/2011 -
" I read the Stanley Lombardo translation, which rocked my socks off. "
— Hilary, 4/22/2011 -
" i don't know what version of The Iliad I read in college, but I loved it "
— Mike, 4/21/2011 -
" wooooooooooooow!!!!!! <br/>akhirnya beres juga baca buku ini <br/>wkwkwkwkwk "
— Rei, 4/21/2011 -
" i don't know what version of The Iliad I read in college, but I loved it "
— Mike, 4/21/2011 -
" wooooooooooooow!!!!!! <br/>akhirnya beres juga baca buku ini <br/>wkwkwkwkwk "
— Rei, 4/21/2011
About Homer
Homer (9th or 8th century BC) is the presumed author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, the two greatest epic poems of ancient Greece. Virtually nothing is known about his life. Tradition has it that he was blind. Most scholars believe he composed the Iliad and the Odyssey by relying on oral traditions. Their value lies chiefly in the poetry itself, moving from sublime passages about the gods and heroic exploits to passages expressing deep human emotion.
About Anthony Heald
Anthony Heald, an Audie Award–winning narrator, has earned Tony nominations and an Obie Award for his theater work; appeared in television’s Law & Order, The X-Files, Miami Vice, and Boston Public; and starred as Dr. Frederick Chilton in the 1991 Oscar-winning film The Silence of the Lambs. He has also won numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards for his narrations.